Patient Care
Patient-centric systems managing electronic health records, appointments, patient engagement, and care coordination
Overview
The Patient Care subdomain provides the digital foundation for patient interactions and health record management. It encompasses all systems that patients and providers use to manage health information, schedule care, and communicate.
Key Capabilities
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- Comprehensive patient medical history
- Problem lists and diagnoses
- Allergies and adverse reactions
- Medication lists
- Immunization records
- Visit documentation
- Care plans and goals
Patient Engagement
- Patient Portal: Secure access to health records
- Messaging: Secure communication with providers
- Educational Materials: Personalized health information
- Appointment Management: Self-service scheduling
- Test Results: Real-time access to lab and imaging results
Care Coordination
- Referral management
- Care team collaboration
- Transition of care summaries
- Care gap identification
- Health maintenance reminders
FHIR Resources Managed
- Patient: Demographics and identifiers
- Encounter: Visits and admissions
- Condition: Problems and diagnoses
- AllergyIntolerance: Allergies and sensitivities
- MedicationStatement: Current medications
- Immunization: Vaccination history
- CarePlan: Treatment and care plans
- Appointment: Scheduled visits
Data Privacy & Security
PHI Protection
- All patient data encrypted (AES-256)
- Audit trail for every access
- Automatic session timeout (15 minutes)
- Break-the-glass emergency access with alerts
Patient Rights
- Right to access (within 30 days)
- Right to amend records
- Right to accounting of disclosures
- Consent management for data sharing
Access Controls
- Role-based permissions
- Relationship-based access (treating provider)
- Patient-controlled sharing
- Minimum necessary principle
Integration Points
- Clinical Operations: Lab orders, imaging orders, procedure requests
- Pharmacy: E-prescriptions, medication reconciliation
- Billing: Encounter documentation for claims
- External Systems: Health Information Exchanges (HIE)
Patient Portal Features
For Patients
- View medical records
- Schedule appointments
- Request prescription refills
- Secure messaging with providers
- Pay bills online
- Download health summaries (CCD)
- Proxy access for family members
For Caregivers
- Dependent access (pediatrics)
- Authorized representative access
- Care coordination for elderly parents
Compliance & Standards
- HIPAA Privacy & Security Rules
- 21st Century Cures Act: Information blocking prohibition
- ONC 2015 Edition: EHR certification requirements
- FHIR US Core: Implementation guide compliance