Final answer:
An API that enables patients to access and retrieve their own medical records provides key functionalities like patient empowerment, seamless data exchange, and improved efficiency of healthcare services.
Step-by-step explanation:
An API that enables patients to access and retrieve their own medical records provides several key functionalities and benefits. Firstly, it allows patients to have direct control over their health information, empowering them to manage and monitor their own health. This access to personal medical records can promote patient engagement and involvement in their healthcare decisions.
Additionally, an API can facilitate the seamless exchange of health data between different healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care and preventing duplication of medical tests and treatments. By allowing patients to access their medical records electronically, an API enables them to easily share vital information with various healthcare professionals they may encounter, such as specialists or emergency department staff.
Furthermore, an API that enables patients to access and retrieve their medical records can improve the efficiency of healthcare services. It reduces the administrative burden on healthcare providers by eliminating the need for manual record retrieval and transfer, streamlining workflows, and saving time and resources.