Patients across the U.S. are increasingly gaining access to their medical records via the Internet, according to American Hospital Association data that shows the number of individuals accessing their information rose from 43 percent in 2013 to 89 percent in 2014.
Additionally, hospitals are beginning to give patients options beyond just viewing their records, including the ability to schedule appointments and request prescription refills through EHR web portals. The ability for patients to transmit their data from an EHR to a third party rose 52 percent between the two years, and the ability to download information from medical records rose by 50 percent.