In today’s digital age, more and more aspects of our lives are going online and into the cloud. We can stream our favorite movies and TV shows, do our banking, and even attend virtual doctor’s appointments through apps and websites. For patients of Austin Regional Clinic (ARC), one of the biggest conveniences of the modern era is MyChart – ARC’s online patient portal.
MyChart allows ARC’s patients to access their personal health information, communicate with their care team, manage appointments, request prescription refills, pay medical bills, and more from any web-connected device. It puts you squarely in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing your health and wellness journey.
“MyChart is really all about empowering our patients and giving them easy access to their health information,” says Dr. Anas Younan, Chief Medical Information Officer at ARC. “We want our patients to be engaged partners in their care, and MyChart facilitates that by giving them a window into their medical records and open lines of communication with our providers.”
Getting Started with MyChart
Signing up for MyChart is simple and can be done online at https://mychart.austinregionalclinic.com/ or through ARC’s MyChart mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. You’ll need to provide some basic information to verify your identity, such as your name, date of birth, ZIP code, and an activation code that ARC can provide. Once your account is set up, you’ll have a secure, encrypted gateway into your personal health data.
Some of the key features available through MyChart include:
- Access to test results as soon as they are available
- Ability to message your care team with non-urgent questions
- Requesting and managing appointments
- Requesting prescription refills
- Paying bills and updating payment information
- Viewing visit summaries, immunization records, and more
“I really appreciate how easy MyChart makes it to stay on top of my family’s health,” says Susan Thompson, an ARC patient. “Instead of having to call the office, I can just hop on the app or website to get test results, ask my doctor a quick question, or request an appointment. It’s so convenient.”
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Viewing Test Results on MyChart
One of the most popular MyChart features is the ability to view test results as soon as they become available. From the “Test Results” section, you can see results for laboratory tests, imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs, and other diagnostic procedures your doctor has ordered.
“We are committed to getting test results out to our patients as quickly as possible so they don’t have to wait and wonder,” says Dr. Younan. “As soon as results are finalized in our electronic health record system, they automatically flow over to each patient’s MyChart account.”
You can view graphical trends over time for tests that are routinely monitored, and you can even download or print out test results to share with other providers. If you have any questions about your results, simply send a message to your care team through MyChart.
Messaging Your Care Team
Speaking of messaging, the communication capabilities of MyChart are one of its biggest advantages. You can send and receive secure messages with your doctors, nurses, and ARC’s nursing triage staff for non-urgent issues. Some examples of message topics include:
- Asking follow-up questions about a recent visit
- Providing updates on how you’re feeling or reacting to a new medication
- Asking for medication refill requests
- Getting general advice about managing minor symptoms
“The messaging feature allows our patients to reach out to us about routine matters without having to call or come into the office,” explains Dr. Younan. “And they can do it whenever is convenient for them, even after regular business hours.”
Messages from patients go into a pooled inbox that is continuously monitored by ARC’s clinical staff. They will triage the message and respond within one business day, or escalate it to a provider if needed.
Of course, MyChart messaging should only be used for non-urgent matters. If you are experiencing a true medical emergency, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Online Appointment Scheduling
Scheduling appointments through MyChart puts you in control of finding times that work for your schedule. You can view your ARC provider’s availability in real-time and self-schedule appointments for office visits, imaging tests, procedures, and more.
When requesting an appointment on MyChart, you can specify reasons for your visit, note any preferences for things like gender or language, and even send visit instructions if needed. Once scheduled, the appointment will appear on your personal MyChart calendar.
If for some reason you need to cancel or reschedule, you can easily do so through MyChart as well – no phone call required.
“Online self-scheduling has been a game-changer for our patients’ experience and our clinic workflows,” comments Dr. Younan. “Patients appreciate the flexibility and convenience, while we’ve seen dramatically reduced volumes of appointment-related phone calls.”
In addition to scheduling appointments, MyChart also allows you to fill out any pre-visit questionnaires or forms ahead of time to further streamline your in-person visit.
Telehealth Video Visits
For minor health issues that don’t require an in-person appointment, patients can leverage MyChart to conduct a virtual Video Visit with an ARC provider. After requesting a Video Visit through MyChart and providing brief details about the reason for your virtual appointment, you will receive secure private video conference credentials via MyChart message.
At your scheduled Video Visit time, you simply click the link to be connected to your ARC provider through an encrypted video feed. You can have a face-to-face consultation about symptoms, get general advice, or even potentially have a prescription sent to your pharmacy if needed.
“We know our patients are busy, so the ability to take care of minor issues virtually from the convenience of their home or office is a real perk,” says Dr. Younan. “Our Video Visit volumes show just how much this service is valued.”
Just like with the secure messaging feature, Video Visits through MyChart should only be used for non-urgent medical needs. Serious emergencies require emergency care.
Prescription Management
Finally, MyChart offers some helpful capabilities for managing medications. If your ARC provider sends a new prescription for you, you’ll get a notification in MyChart with details about the medication and instructions. You canquickly have it sent to the pharmacy of your choice with a couple clicks.
For existing medications that need a refill, there is a “Renew Medications” section where you can request refills from your providers. This cuts out the hassle of calling the office or pharmacy and waiting on hold.
In the medications section, you’ll also find a comprehensive list of your current medications with instructions that you can access anytime to stay informed.
With convenient features for everything from accessing test results to messaging providers, scheduling appointments, managing prescriptions and more, MyChart is truly putting patients first. ARC patients have a wealth of self-service capabilities at their fingertips through this robust online portal and mobile apps.
“Ultimately, MyChart is about making healthcare more accessible, transparent and convenient for our patients,” concludes Dr. Younan. “We want to eliminate as many barriers and frustrations as we can. By empowering our patients with their own health data and open communication channels, we can be true partners in their overall wellbeing.”
