A free service allowing people to access numerous personal healthcare records is being touted by local healthcare professionals.
The Huron Perth and Area Ontario Health Team (OHT) is encouraging people to sign up for a service that will allow more personal healthcare empowerment.
Nicole Vlasman, the Huron Perth OHT's Marketing and Communications Lead, says the organization wants people to sign up for the ConnectMyHealth service, which allows people to access much of their personal health records. Vlasman says this is about using digital tools to allow people to be more connected to their healthcare journeys through this free online healthcare portal.
"It lets people see their hospital health records from participating hospitals from across Southwestern Ontario. As of right now, there's 35 hospitals that you can access your records from," Vlasman explained. "So it includes everything from lab results, to imaging results, discharge information, medications, appointments, and it's all in one hub. So when you log in on either desktop, your tablet or your phone, everything is right there for you to access."
Vlasman adds that the aim is to get people to be more aware of and involved with their healthcare in a free, convenient way.
"If you can picture you leaving the hospital and having to go back to your primary healthcare provider or into another service, you have the empowerment to take those test results, or whatever other results you need, with you to those other appointments," she added.
The ConnectMyHealth service is not managed by any of the OHTs across the province, it has its own team dedicated to maintaining the service run out of Hamilton Health Sciences, Vlasman points out.
Vlasman adds that the service is completely free to use and access, and the registration process is very simple. You just need to be 16 or older and have a valid green Ontario health card and your own email address. There is typically a one or two day waiting period so the team can verify your identity, and then you gain access to your records.
You can visit ConnectMyHealth.ca to register.
