Thanks to a web portal that allows 24-hour access to many health records, the patients of Christie Clinic in Champaign, Ill., have a new, more convenient way to manage their healthcare needs. The site is the first such portal designed by InteGreat , a leading provider of electronic health record (EHR) systems for physician group practices.

By logging on with a secure password, patients can

·         view any scheduled appointment,

·         request future appointments and

·         check various health indicators, such as their last recorded blood pressure (BP) reading from a previous check-up.

Future versions of the portal will allow for even more services. For instance, patients will be able to check radiology and lab results, update medical records, request prescriptions and electronically create their family history, which shows past occurrences of diseases such as cancer and diabetes in family members. This feature will eliminate the tedious process of filling out lengthy medical forms before seeing a doctor, and the history will "follow" the patient to all future appointments, no matter which doctor he or she is seeing.