More than 55,000 patients now using innovative portal, empowering them with convenient and secure online access to personal health records
The Woodlands, Texas (Jan. 14, 2013) ― Personal and educational health content is now available for more than 55,000 patients using My Care PlusSM, a secure online patient portal developed by McKesson Specialty Health. Derived from information entered by the patient’s physician into iKnowMed or iKnowMed Generation 2 electronic health record (EHR), My Care Plus enables physicians and their staff to securely share health information electronically, providing patients convenient and secure access to personalized medical information from anywhere with internet connectivity.
Patients treated at medical practices that use iKnowMed or iKnowMed Generation 2 are eligible to enroll in My Care Plus. Enrolled patients are provided with secure online access to their personal health information, eliminating the need to request records directly from their physician’s office and wait for them to arrive by mail or fax. This quick and easy access empowers patients to take a more active role in their healthcare, contributing to better outcomes and fewer errors while providing an improved patient experience.
“I like the idea that I can log in and look at my lab results, look at all that information and have it at my fingertips,” said Michael Osborne, a cancer patient being treated at Maryland Oncology Hematology. “It helps me keep track of my own health and better manage my disease.”
More than 50 community oncology practices across the country are now utilizing this innovative technology. In addition to their own personal health information, enrolled patients being treated at these practices can also access educational information to help them during diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Resources include extensive medication information, including single and multiple agent regimen overviews detailing administration and possible side effects, developed by a team of healthcare professionals at McKesson Specialty Health. Additional CURE Today resources featuring patient experiences and cancer guides are now also available to patients to support them in their cancer journey. Disease and condition information, provided by the American Cancer Society will be released later this year.
"The educational content enhancements to My Care Plus will allow me to provide patient education more easily and help me to improve my patients' health literacy, ” said Debra Patt, M.D., M.P.H., medical oncologist and hematologist with Texas Oncology. “Leveraging these technology resources to enhance the value and quality of the patient experience is a core competency within my practice, and having a tool like the portal allows us to reach numerous patients simultaneously.”
The new educational content on My Care Plus will help oncology practices meet one of the objectives required of the Medicaid and Medicare EHR Incentive Program for the “Meaningful Use” of certified EHR technology. In Stage 1 of Meaningful Use, patient-specific education materials are already an objective that providers can choose to meet. Beginning in 2014, Stage 2 of Meaningful Use requires Eligible Professionals to provide patients with educational resources. Through My Care Plus, practices using iKnowMed or iKnowMed Generation 2 can more conveniently provide educational information digitally and improve communication with patients.
“Patients with cancer and hematologic maladies are seeking access to their personal health information and educational content to aid them through their cancer journey,” said Dan Lodder, vice president of Technology Sales and Portals for McKesson Specialty Health. “We fundamentally believe that a more engaged, informed and empowered patient will lead to better outcomes and quality of life.”
About McKesson Specialty Health
McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation, empowers the community patient care delivery system by helping community practices advance the science, technology and quality of care. Through innovative clinical, research, business and operational solutions, facilitated by integrated technology systems, we focus on improving the financial health of our customers so they may provide the best care to their patients. For more information, visit www.McKessonspecialtyhealth.com.