Cleveland Clinic Increases Online Health Record Transparency for Patients

Cleveland Clinic, a large nonprofit multi-specialty academic medical center, has announced that it is making patient data more transparent through its MyChart online patient portal.

The center has already made patient data available through MyChart, which is connected to the Cleveland Clinic electronic medical record (EMR), including after-visit summaries, medications lists, allergies, immunization records, preventative care details, laboratory results, and radiology reports. With this update, patients will be able to access to additional items in their record including pathology records, x-ray reports, physician notes, and the list of their current health issues.

"Our 21st century, value-based healthcare delivery system requires that patients are actively engaged in their health and healthcare decision-making," Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, M.D., CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement. "It is our job to provide MyChart-activated patients with the tools and information they need to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, under the guidance and expert advice of their physicians."

At a recent event in Washington D.C., Cosgrove gave a keynote speech touching upon how the provider has transformed care to comply with the ideals of healthcare reform. He talked about the MyChart portal, saying that they have been able to connect 1.5 million users to their health record electronically through it. He also mentioned that 50,000 patients requested appointments online.

Cleveland Clinic CIO C. Martin Harris, M.D. said the hospital expects to make patient records fully transparent sometime next year.