I think that the evidence that putting pathology reports on the patient portal will improve patient safety is very limited. Obvious barriers are that patients have to view the portal , understand the report, and know what to do if they do understand the report. In a study we did that put lab results on line for creatinine, we found that patients who actually viewed their test results only had a 2-10% lower chance of having their abnormal results not followed up (AJKD 74(5):589-600.) This was statistically significant but not very large of an effect.
Having said all of this, the medical record is for the benefit of the patient and the patient should have unfettered access to their medical record. In the pre-EMR days that meant going to medical records and physically obtaining a copy. In today's environment we simply need to keep up with technology. I would argue that posting results on the portal is not just a safety issue but an ethical issue and that we should not put barriers in the way of patients accessing information that they are entitled to see.
Michael H. Kanter, MD, CPPS
Professor and Chair
Department of Clinical Science
98 S. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Work phone: (626) 564-3643 | tieline 8+338 | Mobile phone: (626) 243-8674
michael.h.kanter@kp.org | https://medschool.kp.org | @michaelkantermd
Pronouns: he/him
Vanessa Papatsos, Executive Assistant
vanessa.papatsos@kp.org | Work phone: (626) 564-3608 | Mobile phone: (626) 660-8604

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