Online Medical Records Access

[MSWR0319]

At what age did you lose access to your child's online medical records? I just noticed that I can't see DS1's medical appointments or visit summaries anymore in his portal for our local medical center. I sent the help desk a message and they told me I lost that ability one day before he turned 14 because he has the right to privacy by law. What confuses me the most is that I still have access to all of his other portal accounts as a proxy and they say they don't change till he turns 18. It's just confusing me why I would lose access at this facility but not others. The only thing I can think of is that corporate is in a neighboring state, so maybe the law there is different? I can set him up a separate account for me to keep track of, but it was so much nicer to be able to do it all under my account.

ETA: It just is so confusing. I have to give him the right to have his own account, so that he can turn around and create an account and then give me access to his account. Yet they have to get parental consent to treat him.

[AnnieW625]

12. I have access to messages they send to the doctor (Dd1 requested chiropractor referral: which I knew she was going to do) and their vaccine records. I would be much happier if it were 15 or 16. If I am getting copies of their message responses why can’t I see everything else? We have Kaiser Permanente.

I can still make their appointments with no issues.

ETA:
We have the same option as the OP. Dd1 finally got her account set up when she was 14. It was next to impossible to set up until she finally got online with an it specialist and got it set up. I am going to have to do it for dd2 at some point.

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[doberbrat]

12 and its maddening! My kids are far more independent than their peers. They still cant make their own dr's appts at 12/13 - heck dd1 couldnt make her own vaccine appt at 16! Never mind the fact that a 12yo probably cant get to the drs by themselves even if they manage to make the appt. I totally get it at 16 but not 12.

[Snow mom]

Also 12, although I recently was allowed in the room for a sick visit. I guess the routine visits are really when they want the kids to have privacy to discuss whatever. DD can’t grant me access to the online system or permission to be in the room. One thing that I find funny is now they text her rather than me with the automated satisfaction surveys.

I try to be glad she’s getting some self-advocacy skills as the year before they leave home (or even later!) is not the time to learn how to do things independently. I will admit the 12 law forced my hand on this though as I think a little older (13? 14?) would be better.

[DualvansMommy]

My kids pediatrician don’t do online portals. Only phone calls, which is annoying in itself sometimes as I like to send quick message or RX refill at a portal like I do with my own medical portal. But I did ask this last year at DS1 annual wellness check up and they said they stop access to parents (ie being in the room during checkups) when they turn 12/13 so that’s this year for me with ds1.

It’s annoying but I try to reframe this that this helps more vulnerable patients who need that safety net. I’m a social worker so I get the privacy affording to children of certain age, and while the access denied to parents by kids is minimal, it doesn’t lessen the hassle for parents though who still have to manage making appointments, filling paperwork, refilling RX etc. just wish it’s more consistent across the board though.


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[ett]

At the pediatrician's office, it was around 12-13. (I can't remember the exact age.) But they still allow parents to be in the room during visits. I'm there for all the sick visits and for annuals I go in first with them and discuss any issues I want and then I leave and the ped does the examination.

But I have full access to their medical records until they're 18 for the specialists that they see at the local hospitals. I honestly don't know why this is different either.

[ett]

Also 12, although I recently was allowed in the room for a sick visit. I guess the routine visits are really when they want the kids to have privacy to discuss whatever. DD can’t grant me access to the online system or permission to be in the room. One thing that I find funny is now they text her rather than me with the automated satisfaction surveys.

I try to be glad she’s getting some self-advocacy skills as the year before they leave home (or even later!) is not the time to learn how to do things independently. I will admit the 12 law forced my hand on this though as I think a little older (13? 14?) would be better.

I don't understand why they won't allow the parent to be in the room with a child, especially if the child is okay with it. I understand not being in the room for examinations to give the child privacy, but what if you have issues to discuss with the ped? Will they discuss with you on the phone? After all, you still need to give consent for your child to be treated. If they believe age 12 is old enough not to give parent access to the child's medical records, then the child should be old enough to decide whether they would like the parent to be in the room with them. Likewise as an adult, I can take whoever I want to with me to an appointment.

[klwa]

Our peds office allowed me in the room with DD1 (14) this year, but also pulled her out for about 5 minutes to talk privately. Once they were done with that, they went over what had been discussed with me at a high level. (DD1 has some anxiety issues, which I had mentioned during scheduling, so they 1) knew I was already aware and 2) got DD1's approval before discussing it with me.) I think the main reason I was brought into the discussion was that they were adding a prescription, so I needed to be involved with picking that up. DH has been taking DS(17) for several years. Since he turned about 12, the doctor would take him back separately but then call DH in to discuss any issues at the end of the appointment. That stopped in 2020, when DH would just stay in the car.

[JBaxter]

It must be different state to state We use a family practice and a parent is required to be with a minor and we all have separate log ins for the portal and I made all the passwords and they use my email as the contact

[jgenie]

I go in with my kids for all appointments. They do pull them out for a few minutes to speak with them privately at their annual visit.