http://goo.gl/MN62Cp
Before attempting to answer the main question in the title, let me describe some of the features of the web portal for the medical records of my cat and dog. The web portal login page is modern-looking and professionally designed, with large, readable fonts and uncluttered information about the health of my pets (I can even attach their pictures to facilitate portal use). The opening page is easy to navigate and includes a dashboard that, for example, allows pet owners to track changes in the weight of their pet(s) over time.
The web portal also includes useful information such as each pet’s vaccine history, weight, test results, and prescriptions. Pet owners are also encouraged to interact online with their “veterinary team” because “the knowledge gained from reviewing your pet’s medical records will come in handy at the next veterinarian visit, as you can be prepared with specific questions.”
There is even a list of questions that I “might already be thinking of” and might be prepared to ask (“When are the next vaccinations due?”, “When was the last blood and/or urine screening performed?”). All test results are presented with few abbreviations and in brief, easily understood statements. For the few abbreviated technical terms used, the web portal includes examples of “commonly used veterinary abbreviations,” such as FAD (“flea allergy dermatitis”) and MN (“male neutered”).
Cluttered Web Portals
In contrast, the web portal for my medical records seems outdated and cluttered. For example, the welcome page has a hyperlink to “Schedule appointments for your current health reminders.” That link then takes me to a list of preventive care reminders for procedures such as “Hepatitis C Screen Fpa” and “Colonoscopy,” but also with a status column stating that these procedures are not due for several years.