Since its launch two years ago, more than 160,000 patients at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) have registered to access their medical records and other health information using the patient portal, MyHealth.
According to HMC Clinical Information Systems Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Abdul Wahab Al Musleh, giving patients access to their personal health information allows them to become true partners in their healthcare.
MyHealth allows patients to share the responsibility for their own health by providing secure access to their electronic health data. Whether patients see a doctor at HMC or PHCC, receive care in the emergency department, get lab work or medical imaging services, or are admitted to hospital, they now have all their health information in a single electronic record.
Dr Al Musleh also said that they found that giving patients the ability to access their records has an empowering effect. This type of access can be especially important for those living with chronic or long-term medical conditions. These patients are better able to track their own health and it allows care teams at HMC and PHCC to work as a single team.
MyHealth allows patients to review their test results, view their visit history, and access their preventative care immunisation record. The platform has the potential to improve patients’ health knowledge, reduce anxiety, and improve communications with their healthcare provider. It also has the power to improve the patients’ overall health by allowing them to be more involved in their care.
Dr Al Musleh said that the online platform has reduced the need, in some instances, for patients to make a return visit to their physician as they can access some results online and communicate with their physician through the portal.
This function, says Dr Al Musleh, enables patients to ask non-urgent questions, for example about their medication, or to seek clarification.
The normal turn-around time for a response is three business days but we ask patients not to use this function for urgent matters. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 999.
Patients can register for MyHealth patient portal online at myhealth.qa. Once registered, patients can access these records from their computer, tablet, or smartphone. Patients can also seek more information about MyHealth by calling Nesma’ak (16060) at HMC or Hayyak (107) at PHCC.
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