Patient Portal

I usually confine my medical writings to another, darkside blog, but the Patient Portal is such a significant medical development, its story must be told.  This morning, Wednesday, I went to a local facility to have  bloodwork and other lab tests, of the FU variety.  The prescribing doctor offers a Patient Portal, whereby  patients can register, and access  their medical records through their chosen password.  This evening, I opened the Portal and my morning  test results were readily available.
    It seems like a simple thing, but just think of all the times patients have been worried sick waiting for their test results.  Waiting a week or more may have been justified fifty or even twenty years ago, but now many procedures are computerized and technology makes the results  readily attainable.  It's unnecesarily cruel to have people agonize while waiting to learn their fate.  While it may be simple decency to offer patients timely access to their records, and while we've been hearing about this innovation for some time, I know of only one medical office that has the Patient Portal system up and running.  The reason for the delay may be because the benefit is for the patient, not the doctor, unfortunately not incentive enough to activate just for patients..
      I am awaiting the results of a mammogram from a well respected and recently renovated hospital; they say to expect the report in the mail in a week to ten days.  So while some things may change in a multi-million dollar investment, some things remain stuck in the past. The digitalized exams are read the same day, but the reports have to go from the lab through the mail room, and that can take a while: meanwhile, the patient waits, as did her mother, and grandmother.  When I was at the facility last year, I was given a form to authorize Patient Portal participation, which I signed.  This year, I asked if the program were available, and the answer was yes, but it's only for doctors to access your information.  Very disappointing.  How much more effort would it take?
    Another office proudly proclaimed the Patient Portal a year or so ago, but "has not gotten around to activate it yet." 
    A possible reason for the delay, from a cynical viewpoint, might be that if patients could get their results electronically, a return doctor's visit might not be necessary in some cases.  Doctors do look forward to those FU visits.
    BTW:  My bloodwork was all normal, with only the Total Cholesterol of 200 being borderline normal.  I'm pretty sure it would have been lower if I hadn't eaten 3, yes, count 'em 3,  hot cross buns the day before.  But after Easter, we won't see them for a whole year.