Page 30 - Part 2 Navigating Electronic Media in a Healthcare Setting

SVMIC Navigating Electronic Media in a Healthcare Setting

scope of this course to provide specific guidance regarding every
individual scenario. Physicians and providers are encouraged to

contact legal counsel or SVMIC with specific questions as they

arise.

Finally, before a patient is permitted to use the portal, he or she

must sign a Disclaimer or Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
document. This document can be in either paper or electronic

form and is typically furnished by the vendor or IT professional

who installs the portal system. It should be tailored to each
individual practice’s needs. The purpose of this document is to

grant the provider permission to transmit ePHI using the portal. It
sets forth the practice’s policy on access and release of the

patient’s medical records and also discusses the risks associated
with use of the portal as well as the patient’s need to keep his or

her login (authentication) information secure. In addition to

outlining the rights and responsibilities of both parties, it should
contain a prominent warning instructing the patient to not use the

portal for communication in the event of an emergency.

Reporting Test Results Via the Portal

Every practice should have a consistent method for notifying all

patients of all test results and instructing them to call the practice if

they have not received the results within the expected time frame.
These instructions to the patients, as well as the actual patient

notification should be documented in the medical record. Although
instructing the patient to call for test results does not absolve the

doctor of the duty to inform the patient, it does act as an additional
safety net to insure that important test results do not get

overlooked and is a legitimate means of involving the patient in his

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