AMGA Advocating for Expanded Definition of "Patient Harm"

Alexandria, Virginia — With the proliferation of online patient portals lending urgency to the receipt of often sensitive test results that patients have potential to see before their care team, the emotional impact can be significant and disruptive. Although there was good intent behind mandating the immediate release of test results under the 21st Century Cures Act, this "guiding principle" is failing patients, explains Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA).

“We can balance the rights of patients to have quick access to their medical information without causing needless distress or confusion—and that’s what’s happening now," he said in a press release announcing the AMGA's push to include mental or emotional harm under the definition of patient harm and to institute a delay in the release of test results.

The AMGA has laid out its 4-part initiative in a letter to Thomas Keane, MD, MBA, assistant secretary for technology policy and national coordinator for health information technology, HHS. Among the requests is to collaborate with electronic health record developers on patient education about their results and automate follow-up scheduling.

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