Athenahealth provides cloud-based electronic health records used by many smaller medical practices. Their patient portal gives you access to records, but terms heavily favor the platform and your healthcare provider in any disputes. As a business-to-business service, patient rights are secondary to provider relationships.
You're bound by athenahealth's terms AND your healthcare provider's terms. This creates confusion about which policies apply and who is responsible for data handling, errors, or access issues.
Athenahealth disclaims liability for the accuracy of information displayed, system availability, and consequences of medical decisions. If incorrect information appears in your records, the terms limit your recourse.
Athenahealth can modify terms at any time with notice only through the portal. Continued use constitutes acceptance. You may not realize terms have changed until they affect you.
If your provider switches EHR systems, your portal access and data portability may be affected. Historical records could become less accessible when practices leave athenahealth.
As a covered entity's business associate, athenahealth must comply with HIPAA security and privacy rules, providing baseline protections for your health information.
Athenahealth's portal typically offers cleaner, more intuitive access to records than legacy systems, making it easier to review your health information.
Key considerations for athenahealth users: