Collaboration with Apple will empower patients’ access to their health information
Patients will now have access to their Kadlec health records on their iPhones through Apple’s Health app, an exciting step in empowering our patients by helping them access important personal health care information.
The new health records feature in the Health app, which comes installed on all iPhones, integrates patient health records, allowing consumers to view parts of their heath information, including allergies, conditions, immunizations, labs, medications, procedures and vitals, easily and securely right on their iPhone. All data is encrypted and protected by the user’s iPhone passcode.
This feature is now available to patients at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, as well as Providence Health & Services in Alaska, Oregon, California, Washington, and Montana. Swedish is expected to come on board within the next several months. The St. Joseph Health legacy organization will join over time as Epic rolls-out system-wide.
Keeping personal health data safe
To access the feature, users need to log in with their existing electronic health record (K-Chart). When health record data is transferred from Providence to the Health app, it is encrypted and does not go through Apple’s network. When a user’s iPhone is locked with a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID, their health data in the Health app is encrypted on the device.
Patient benefits
Empowering patients to collect, view and securely store their health records on their iPhone can help them get engaged in their health conditions and treatment options. When patients have their medical information organized into one view right on their iPhone, it can help them better understand their overall health and provide key elements of their medical history when visiting a new doctor.
As more patients gain easier access to their medical records, that health information combined with patient-generated data from their device will enable patients to provide their care providers with a more holistic view of their health, strengthening the provider-patient relationship.
Kadlec joins several leading health systems across the country in working with Apple on this initiative, including Penn Medicine, Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Johns Hopkins, and Geisinger Health System.
See Frequently Asked Questions and read Apple’s announcement to learn more about this new feature.