Consequences of patient access to online medical records

In this episode, we talk to Professor Jeremy Horwood, Professor of Social Science and Health at the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol. Paper: Unintended consequences of patient online access to health records: a qualitative study in UK primary careAvailable at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0720Previous studies of patient online access to their medical records have noted a range of concerns about potential unintended consequences. This study reports real-world experiences of the consequences of online access. We identified unintended consequences that impacted patient autonomy and GP documentation practices, and also increased workload through providing access while avoiding harm to patients. It is crucial that practices are adequately supported and resourced to manage the unintended consequences of online access now that it is the default position.