Apple’s Health Records on iPhone now available to OUH patients
07/10/2020
This article is more than three years old.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is now able to offer patients a simple and secure way to access medical data through Health Records on iPhone, which is available in the UK today (Wednesday 7 October 2020).
OUH patients can now choose to access Health Records on iPhone, which brings together hospitals, clinics and the existing Apple Health app to make it easy for patients to see their available medical data from multiple providers whenever they choose.
The Health Records feature is part of Apple's Health app, which also shows activity, heart rate, nutrition and other health data consolidated from iPhone, Apple Watch and HealthKit-enabled third-party apps.
OUH patients who have been registered with the Trust's 'Health for Me' patient portal will be able to access Health Records on iPhone. Currently registration on the patient portal is being rolled out by clinical specialty, starting with Diabetes and Renal, before being rolled out Trustwide.
Health Records creates a direct connection between medical institutions and a patient's iPhone, allowing them to see a central view of their allergies, conditions, lab results, medications and procedures. It also notifies patients when their data is updated.
Health Records on iPhone was designed to protect patients' privacy by utilising a direct, encrypted connection between the user's iPhone and their healthcare organisation. Downloaded health records data is stored on-device and encrypted with the user's iPhone passcode, Touch ID or Face ID.
Apple created Health Records based on FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), a standard for transferring electronic medical records.
Patients can access Health Records from within the Health app and can download their health records by selecting Oxford University Hospitals and authenticating with their patient portal username and password.
Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery, Chair of Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Healthcare Law at University College London, says: "Improving our services to patients, while protecting their privacy and security, is of paramount importance to us. This exciting development provides a more convenient option for patients to access their health records. Patients retain control over their own health information at all times."
David Walliker, Chief Digital and Partnerships Officer at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, adds: "Health Records on iPhone puts our patients at the centre of their care. As a Digital Health Exemplar organisation in the NHS, we are committed to the potential for technology to empower patients to take control of their healthcare."
More information about Health Records on iPhone is available on the Apple website.
More information about how Apple protects privacy when people use Health Records on iPhone is also available on the Apple website.