Patient portal provides secure access
to health information
PRESQUE ISLE — Patients of the Women’s Health Center at The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) now have a new, secure way of accessing their own critical health information and interacting with their provider through a new patient portal being piloted by Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Lucy Richard.
THE Women’s Health Center staff have a new tool to assist with patients’ care, with the myTAMC Provider Online service that allows patients to see medical records and more using an Internet portal that’s easily accessible from any location with an Internet connection. Pictured are, from left: Tina Spinney, medical assistant; Abby Gagnon, health services assistant; and Lucy Richard, certified nurse midwife/women’s health nurse practitioner. 
The myTAMC Provider Online service, being introduced in Richard’s practice, allows patients to see their personalized, real-time information including their medical history, test results, any medications they’ve been prescribed and any communication from Richard or her office staff. The intent is to expand the program to other practices once this pilot project is off the ground.
“This portal means that patients are connected to the Women’s Health Center and their personal medical information anywhere they go and at whatever time is most convenient,” said Richard. “Patients can contact me about their health care needs and their messages and the information posted are secure and accessible only by them.”
The patient portal is something individuals seeing Richard as a provider are now being encouraged to sign up for. When first accessing the portal, patients are walked through a tutorial at a computer at the office during their visit. They can then set up their password and other security measures to ensure their portal can only be accessed by them.
One key feature of the portal is the secure two-way communication that it provides between the patient and provider. Unlike most e-mail, which is not secure, the new technology provides the necessary electronic safeguards to ensure the information is kept confidential. Patients can then use this secure personalized message board to request prescription refills, appointments, medical advice, medical followup and any health care discussions they would like to have.
“Secure messaging provides patients with confidence knowing that their health care communication with me is safe,” said Richard. “Now they can message me at their convenience from anywhere in the world and receive a response quickly. A number of my patients who are already accessing information through their patient portal are simply using their smartphones to communicate with me.”
Patients are also able to use the portal to view lab results quickly, as well as other test results. A copy of messages received and responses recorded is placed in the health record section of the individual’s patient portal, allowing Richard to accurately track any changes in a patient’s care.
“We encourage our patients to sign up for this free service and we can sign them up in a few minutes before they leave the office. That way if there are questions, our expert staff can help immediately,” said Richard.
The Women’s Health Center will continue to be available by phone, and patients are always welcome to drop by the office. For questions regarding myTAMC Provider Online or to become a Women’s Health Center patient, call 769-6636.
