Why Is Easy Access to Medical Records So Important?

A patient-centered approach is becoming more common with physicians and other medical professionals. In order for patients to play a proactive role in their own health, they must have access to their medical records. This is often easier said than done when a person has a comprehensive health history. Records may be spread out over many hospitals and clinics, and communication between these facilities is not always timely. Having easy access to health records can also prevent mistakes and errors when providing medical care. While the responsibility is ultimately on the medical staff, patients who are more knowledgeable about their health and treatments have a greater chance of catching errors should they happen. For example, when a patient can easily check prescription records, they can verify whether the medication they’ve just received is correct.