Final answer:
The EHR system provides patients access and interaction capabilities through a patient portal, which is secure and allows viewing of personal health information. The HIPPA act ensures the confidentiality and privacy of these records.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many offices and Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems today enhance patient engagement by providing a patient portal to the system. These patient portals are a secure online website that gives patients convenient, 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. Using a secure username and password, patients can view health information such as recent doctor visits, discharge summaries, medications, immunizations, allergies, and lab results.
The privacy and security of patient records are paramount, as mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). This legislation was enacted to set standards for the protection of sensitive patient health information. Allowing unauthorized access or improperly sharing such information can lead to legal implications and violations of patient privacy.