MyChart Resources

As a trusted resource and respected influence in your patients’ lives, you play a vital role in encouraging patients and caregivers to sign up for MyChart, which is their sole access point to view their electronic medical records (EMR). When consulting with patients, you are encouraged to talk about the many benefits of MyChart, advise your patients to create a MyChart account and send them a MyChart instant activation link through email or text/SMS.

MyChart Benefits for Physicians and Providers: 

1. Access to medical records: MyChart allows patients to easily access their medical history, lab results and visit summaries, which can help them stay informed about their health.
   • Note on chart documentation: Individual notes can be blocked from a patient, provided an appropriate reason is given. Any and all documentation not currently shared through the legacy EMR will not be shared/visible through Epic MyChart.
2. Appointment Scheduling: Patients can schedule, reschedule or cancel appointments directly through MyChart, increasing convenience and reducing the need for phone calls.
3. Communication: MyChart provides a secure platform for patients to communicate with their health care providers, ask questions and receive advice without needing to visit the office.
4. Prescription Management: Patients can request prescription refills, view their current medications and check for potential drug interactions.
5. Test Results: MyChart often provides faster access to lab and test results, allowing patients to see them as soon as they are available and not wait until the next doctor’s visit.
   • Note on labs: Lab results for pregnancy, HIV, HEP B & C, STI and drug labs will default to immediate release, and providers have the option to delay release of those results up to seven days and document why. A diagnosis of Huntington’s disease will only be shared to MyChart after a provider manually releases the results.
6. Billing and Insurance: Patients can view their billing statements, pay bills online and check their insurance information through MyChart.
7. Health Reminders: MyChart can send reminders for upcoming appointments, screenings or vaccinations, helping patients stay on top of their health care needs.
8. Educational Resources: MyChart may provide personalized educational content related to the patient’s health conditions, treatments or preventive care.

How to Sign Up 

Instant Activation Link Instructions for Physicians and Providers

Click the MyChart Admin Activity in the patient’s storyboard.

Select an activation link to the patient’s preference. It is encouraged to select the “send text” or “send email” option.

Data Transition

As part of the transition to MyChart, all existing patient portals (Cerner, Allscripts and eClinicalWorks) will transition to a read-only format on Oct. 5, 2024, and patient health information will be transferred to MyChart. Here is where their data will be on Oct. 5:

• Most of your health care data will be in MyChart on Oct. 5.
• If a patient had an appointment at a Methodist Le Bonheur facility between Sept. 1 and Oct. 4, 2024 – information from those visits will transfer to MyChart by Dec. 31, 2024.
  • In the meantime, your patients can look at information from those appointments (Sept. 1 – Oct. 4) in their former patient portal.

Proxy Access 

Who can create an account?

For minors ages 0-13: A parent/guardian should create their own MyChart account in order to have proxy access provisioned to them to see their child’s information in MyChart. They can request proxy access through MyChart self-signup, HIM or with their care team. This form is linked to the pre-login page of MyChart. The parent doesn’t have to be an MLH patient to create an account.

For minors ages 14-17: Parents’/guardians’ existing MyChart access to the minor’s portal will become limited by default when the child turns 14. Limited access allows parents to see insurance status and immunization records. Minors ages 14-17 can request their own MyChart portal in the clinic or online.

What if the parent/guardian wants full access to the minor’s portal (aged 14-17?)

Parents/guardians may access all health information of their minor to the extent permitted under applicable federal and state HIPAA and privacy rules. Parents/guardians may access the records of minors aged 14-17 or request expanded MyChart proxy access by completing the online form or calling HIM at 901-516-0901. HIM will review all requests by a parent/guardian for information about their minor.

Parents/guardians with commercial insurance will be able to tell, by reviewing their Explanation of Benefits, the charges for care their child received, in accordance with their policy terms and regardless of privacy limits on the patient portal.

Can a parent/guardian message the physician or schedule appointments on behalf of the minor with limited access?

No, messaging and scheduling functions are only available in expanded access.

What if the minor wants to revoke expanded access to the parent/guardian?

Minors can revoke expanded proxy access to their MyChart portal within MyChart.

What about sensitive test results for minors (aged 14-17)?

In a minor’s MyChart portal, results for pregnancy, HIV, HEP B&C, STI and drug labs will default to immediate release. Providers have the option to delay release of those sensitive test results for seven days and document why in compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act. Additionally, a diagnosis of Huntington’s disease will only be shared to MyChart after a provider manually releases the results. All other results are released immediately with no options to hold. Parents/guardians with limited access to their minor’s portal will not be able to see this information. If the parent/guardian has expanded proxy access, however, the parent/guardian will be able to see all results and information in the minor’s MyChart portal (including sensitive test results), after any applicable seven-day test result delay.

Even with the above considerations for sharing sensitive test results, a minor’s prescription information will still be available to parents/guardians.

What can providers block from the MyChart patient portal?

Case worker notes, administrative notes, confidential images and ethics consult notes will be blocked from the portal. Providers may choose to block individual notes from a patient within the portal, provided an appropriate reason is given. All documentation not currently shared through the legacy electronic medical record (EMR) will not be shared through MyChart.

How do providers block individual notes from being seen within the portal?

Providers can block notes by clicking the “Share in MyChart” button to unhighlight it (since it will be defaulted on in most cases). Once they document a reason in compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act, the note is blocked.

What if the minor doesn’t have the capacity to make decisions about parent/guardian access to their portal (aged 14-17)?

If an adolescent between the ages of 14-17 does not have capacity to make medical decisions, for example because of developmental delays or other circumstances, the parent/guardian would remain the personal representative in all respects. Therefore, in these circumstances, a parent’s/guardian’s full proxy access could generally be extended if it is in the minor’s best interest. These are special circumstances and should be handled in much the same way as adults who lack capacity and have a personal representative acting on their behalf.

What happens when the minor turns 18?

Existing parent/guardian access will be removed when an adolescent turns 18. The young adult can then grant proxy access if desired.

MyChart Bedside

Overview

When a patient is hospitalized, MyChart automatically transitions into MyChart Bedside – making it easy to access care plan updates. MyChart Bedside helps patients stay informed about their or their loved one’s care, provides education and makes it easier to communicate with their care team when hospitalized.

Features

• Real-Time Access to Your Health Information
  • Know What’s Happening: MyChart Bedside lets patients see their lab results, vital signs and other important health information as soon as it’s updated. This means they don’t have to wait for a nurse or doctor to come by to find out what’s going on with their care.
  • Understand Your Treatment: Patients can review the details of their medications, treatments and procedures right on the app, so they know exactly what’s being done and why.

• Patient Education
  • Personalized Information: Based on their condition and treatment plan, MyChart Bedside provides educational materials, including videos and articles, so they can learn more about their health and what to expect during their stay.
  • Informed Decisions: The more a patient knows, the better they can participate in decisions about their care. MyChart Bedside helps them understand their options and feel more in control.

• Medication Information and Updates
  • Know Your Medications: Patients can see a complete list of the medications they are receiving, including the dosage and timing. If they're curious about what a medication is for or how it works, MyChart Bedside provides detailed explanations.

• Stay Connected with Loved Ones
  • Share Information: Patients can easily share their health updates with their family or friends through MyChart Bedside. This keeps them informed and reassured about the patient's progress without needing constant phone calls.

• Prepare for Discharge
  • Understand Next Steps: As a patient gets ready to leave the hospital, MyChart Bedside provides a clear summary of their discharge instructions, including follow-up appointments, medications they'll need and any special care instructions for home.
  • Plan Your Recovery: The patient can also access information on how to manage their recovery at home, helping them feel more confident about the next steps in their healing process.

Frequently Asked Questions