Online blood testing is a wave of the future in healthcare. Today more and more aspects of daily life are being taken care of online! Why should healthcare be any different? Indeed, today almost 40% of Physicians keep track of patient records entirely electronically, and about 20% use a combination of paper and electronic methods. Keeping electronic health records is quite useful and valuable. Keeping medical records electronically helps prevent errors and makes sharing of information between patients, labs, doctors, specialists and hospitals quick, easy and efficient.
Doctors have more and more reason to move into the electronic age because of a federal stimulus package that offers many advantages when they do. This is a good thing for patients because if doctors want to get the funding that’s available, they must use technology that allows patients secure access to their own electronic health records. Some of these advantages are already available to Medicare patients whose doctors can prescribe medications online if they are appropriately connected. Patients who keep track of online blood test results with their own online personal health record at labtestportal.com also benefit from this positive shift in technology.
Keeping medical records online will eventually allow all doctors to “E-Prescribe”. This feature allows your doctor to quickly and easily access the approved formulary of your health insurance company and write appropriate prescriptions that take your co-pay and ability to pay into account. This feature also sends up red flags in case of negative drug interaction potential.
Having an Internet savvy doctor gives patients the benefit of being able to connect by e-mail and even have E-visits. Although only about 10% of doctors participating in this kind of care now, investigations are being made to assure that doctors are paid properly for this kind of visit and that patient privacy and security are properly maintained. When these concerns are addressed e-medicine is sure to become more popular. E-care can save a lot of time and money in situations in which the doctor is familiar with the patient and/or the patient wishes to share information about ongoing treatment or management of a chronic condition.
Currently, anyone can take advantage of free storage of online blood testing results with a completely confidential Personal Health Record at labtestportal.com. In the future, online healthcare will expand to include:
* Access to complete medical records
* Access to complete medical history
* Access to all types of lab test results
* Self care management reminders
* Online bill pay of medical bills
* Online appointment setting
What kind of online health care is available now?
Connected doctors can offer online questionnaires in the form of health assessment software. Patients can fill out the necessary information in regards to health conditions common symptoms, family history and more in advance of their doctor’s visit. This provides the doctor with valuable information in advance to save time and help the patient make the most of time spent in the doctor’s office.
Patients can also take advantage of online blood testing by ordering blood work tests in advance of doctor’s appointments to save time and money that might otherwise be spent on follow-up visits. LabTestPortal.com offers a wide array of affordable blood tests online to help patients prepare for doctor visits and keep track of chronic and general health conditions.
Doctors and patients can also take advantage of programs that assist in diagnoses. An application offered by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality provides physicians with a platform in which they can enter risk factors, characteristics and other information about their patients to get advice on preventative measures and screening tests that are recommended. Additionally, this application offers Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) alerts about public health emergencies, epidemics, drug recalls and other vital items of interest.
Are there many doctors who are Internet connected?
Today it may be difficult to find a doctor who makes good use of electronic health records. If you are on the cutting edge of technology yourself and feel that this would be an important quality in a doctor, you would be best off to seek a physician in a large practice. According to Consumer Reports, doctors who run their own practices are far more likely to keep records on paper.
While it’s great to have a doctor who knows his or her way around the Internet, remember not to forgo high quality care for high tech razzle dazzle! A doctor who provides you with personal, concerned and caring attention while keeping records on paper is a far better choice than one who provides mediocre care while using the latest technology! You can always help an old fashioned doctor out by taking advantage of high tech online blood testing on your own initiative!