"While many conventional DHRs are often criticized by doctors because of their intrinsic shortcomings, it is encouraging to see that the FHI study shows that the majority of the doctors interviewed still find them useful, so that patient information is readily available to them and ready to share within their hospital," said Jan Kimpen.
The survey results also point to areas where the full benefits of technology still need to be unlocked.
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"Healthcare professionals are rarely prepared in terms of how to use digital technology and data when they're training for clinical practice," commented Patricia Mechael, Co-founder and Policy Lead at HealthEnabled and Technical Lead for the Global Digital Health Index. "They may be receiving the latest information when it comes to clinical diagnostics and treatment, but they're not being trained in the communications and data techniques that they'll need to use alongside their clinical skills."
2. Empowered patients – access to data, more control
The study indicates that giving patients access to their own health data makes them more likely to engage with it in a way that will improve the quality of care they receive and their overall healthcare experience. Of the individuals surveyed, those who share their health data with their healthcare professional are more likely to rate the quality of care as good, very good or excellent (74%) compared to those who don't share it (66%). In addition, 63% of individuals who currently do not have, or don't know if they have access to their digital health record, say they want it.
"When patients are more involved in their care, anecdotally we do see better outcomes – they develop a richer and more sophisticated understanding of their health journey," said Dr. K. Elizabeth Hawk, Clinical Instructor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine; Radiologist, Matrix Division, Radiology Partners. "Giving patients this access not only empowers them, it also builds a better relationship between physician and patient. And narrowing this disconnect can have a dramatic impact on physician burnout, too."
"Patients are explicitly asking for access to their digital health records," said Jan Kimpen. "The benefits are clear. Now is the time for the healthcare industry at large to step up its efforts to really bring patients into the cloud. Other industries have shown that the technology is there to do it in a safe way."
