Your medical record is a vital document with details and personal information that is updated after every doctor’s appointment or contact with a medical professional. While the mandatory use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) by medical professionals allows for quick access by doctors, and nurses to your medical history, including diagnoses, surgeries, and prescriptions, there is also a greater risk to you as a patient if the data included in your medical record is incomplete or incorrect.
You can access your electronic medical record after every doctor’s appointment to see the information that was added by your physician. Accessing your medical record and interpreting it can be challenging for a non-medical professional. So for this reason, consider enrolling in the course entitled, “How to Read Your Own Medical Record (Learn What is in Your Medical Files!)” to help you learn how to access and interpret your medical record for free.
There are three key reasons why reading and understanding your medical record is an important step in maintaining your health and maintaining the health of your loved ones.
1. Accuracy
During or after your appointment, your physician or healthcare professional updates your medical record with notes, diagnoses, and procedures. Your prescriptions will also be noted in your chart. Checking your chart for accuracy and ensuring that there are no errors is critical to making sure you receive the correct care in the event that a healthcare emergency makes you unable to communicate with your healthcare team.
2. Employment Reasons
Many employers now ask for or require you to allow them to access parts of your medical record. If your employer does require this, your job may be in jeopardy if your medical record is inaccurate or if confidential information is shared when it should not be. You should check with your employer’s human resources department to find out if any or all your medical record is being accessed. You should also review your medical record on a regular basis.
3. Minor Children Under 18
As a parent or guardian, you have the right to access the healthcare records of your minor children under 18. Not only should you check for errors or accuracy in these health records, but you should also read the diagnosis notes of the physicians to be sure that you have all of the information that you need to make important medical decisions about the health of your children.
Understanding your health care records is challenging but not impossible. At Avidity Medical Design Academy, we offer a variety of healthcare courses designed to empower you as a healthcare consumer and future healthcare worker.
