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.
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