From the article: "The next stage of meaningful-use standards for electronic
health records should allow patients to almost immediately retrieve information
from their medical records, the Society for Participatory Medicine says in comments submitted this
week to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Urging CMS to adopt the mantra “nothing about me without me,” the
Newburyport, Mass.-based patient-rights group also argues for automated
functions that would allow patients to more easily access their health
information. But immediate access to patient information is the group’s top
priority. Patients should be able to see that information as soon as it’s
available in the EHR, according to the letter, signed by Dr. Danny Sands, the
group’s president, and David Harlow, chairman of the public policy committee.
“The regulation should be revised to provide that the only permissible delay
is that requested by the patient,” the group says. “This is technically
feasible, and we believe it is the only way that engaged patients can
participate in finding errors in their records and seek timely help from
advocates and second opinions in situations where we all need it most.” Read more
