[Do not allow the patient immediate access to test results].

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Oncology
• Clinical Decision-Making

Background:

• Dutch hospitals increasingly use electronic patient charts (EPCs).
• Many EPCs offer patients direct access to their medical data, including real-time test results.
• This feature, while beneficial, presents potential challenges in clinical workflows.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the implications of direct patient access to uninterpreted test results via EPCs.
• To highlight potential issues in multidisciplinary care settings.
• To propose a workflow adjustment for EPCs in relation to patient data release.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews current practices in Dutch hospitals regarding EPC implementation.
• It analyzes the potential impact of real-time result access on patient understanding and clinical decision-making.
• It considers the role of multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings in result interpretation.

Main Results:

• Direct patient access to raw test results before physician interpretation can lead to patient anxiety and misinterpretation.
• For cancer patients treated by MDTs, results are often re-evaluated in weekly tumor board meetings.
• Current EPC systems may not adequately accommodate the MDT's interpretive process before patient access.

Conclusions:

• EPC systems should be designed to support, not hinder, established clinical workflows.
• A mechanism is needed to allow medical professionals, particularly MDTs, to review and interpret results before patient access.
• Integrating EPCs with MDT processes can enhance the quality of clinical decision-making and patient care.