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Continuity of Care Documents & Patient Portals

Duration: 45 min · Level: Intermediate · Module: 8. Interoperability & Data Exchange · Focus: CCD, C-CDA, patient-portal, MyChart, care-transitions

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to explain and apply:

  • CCD (Continuity of Care Document)
  • C-CDA required by Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability
  • Patient portal requirements
  • MyChart (Epic)
  • Patient-generated health data (PGHD)

Why this matters​

When patients move between care settings, structured documents carry their health summary.

Overview​

When patients move between care settings, structured documents carry their health summary. The Continuity of Care Document (CCD) is the standard format. Patient portals (MyChart, FollowMyHealth) give patients direct access to their own records. CEHRS specialists manage both.

Key concepts​

Key idea

CCD (Continuity of Care Document): C-CDA (Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture) format; XML-based; contains: patient demographics, allergies, medications, problem list, vital signs, immunizations, lab results, procedures

  • C-CDA required by Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability: must provide a summary of care record (CCD) at referral and care transitions; must transmit electronically on request
  • Patient portal requirements: certified EHRs must provide patients online access to health information within 4 business days of availability; must enable download of clinical summary; FHIR API must be accessible
  • MyChart (Epic): most widely used patient portal; 130M+ patients; enables scheduling, messaging, bill pay, record access, result viewing; integrates with Apple Health via FHIR
  • Patient-generated health data (PGHD): data from wearables, home monitoring devices, patient-reported outcomes submitted through the portal; increasingly integrated into clinical workflows via FHIR
  • Portal adoption challenges: elderly patients, patients with disabilities, patients with limited English may need assistance accessing portal; CEHRS staff often assists with portal enrollment and navigation

Check your understanding​

Try to recall each answer before expanding it.

Q1. What do you know about CCD (Continuity of Care Document)?

C-CDA (Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture) format; XML-based; contains: patient demographics, allergies, medications, problem list, vital signs, immunizations, lab results, procedures

Q2. What do you know about C-CDA required by Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability?

must provide a summary of care record (CCD) at referral and care transitions; must transmit electronically on request

Q3. What do you know about Patient portal requirements?

certified EHRs must provide patients online access to health information within 4 business days of availability; must enable download of clinical summary; FHIR API must be accessible

Q4. What do you know about MyChart (Epic)?

most widely used patient portal; 130M+ patients; enables scheduling, messaging, bill pay, record access, result viewing; integrates with Apple Health via FHIR

Q5. What do you know about Patient-generated health data (PGHD)?

data from wearables, home monitoring devices, patient-reported outcomes submitted through the portal; increasingly integrated into clinical workflows via FHIR

← Previous: C8.2 HIEs, Carequality & CommonWell — Networks for Health Data

Part of Module 8: Interoperability & Data Exchange.