MyPortfolio

MyPortfolio Lets Patients Access Health Records Online

Patients of nearly every University of Maryland Medical System can get secure access to their health records online through a UMMS service called MyPortfolio.

MyPortfolio is a confidential, easy-to-use site that lets patients log in and see key information such as their test results, medications and a history of appointments. Some locations allow patients to pay bills through MyPortfolio, communicate with their primary care provider, or even make appointments.

Why UMMS offers MyPortfolio to Patients

Giving patients access to their health information online will help them be more engaged in monitoring and improving their own health. Offering patients access to their information online has been a federal government goal for many years. By offering this secure "patient portal" through MyPortfolio, UMMS hospitals and affiliates are making what CMS calls "Meaningful Use" of the electronic health record, for which we earn incentive dollars and avoid penalties.

Patients can sign up for MyPortfolio at www.umms.org/myportfolio using the instructions and activation code they receive in the mail after a visit, in their discharge paperwork, or as provided by their physician’s office.

What Does MyPortfolio Mean for Providers and Staff?

Because MyPortfolio gives patients access to so many elements in their patient record, we should expect an increase in questions about the service from patients. A useful one-page guide called "Patient Portal Fact Sheet" helps providers and staff understand the basics so they can answer questions. There is also information on the website about MyPortfolio at www.umm.edu in the "Patients and Visitors" section.Find out more about Meaningful Use in the Meaningful Use section of the UMMS Intranet.

Promoting MyPortfolio: Why It's Important, How You Can Help

MyPortfolio is the UMMS brand that is used system wide for any patient-facing portal, regardless of what underlying application is providing the service (Epic, Cerner, Meditech etc.), and regardless of what content is being provided (bill pay, electronic medical record, etc.).

MyPortfolio includes a collection of secure, web-based tools that offer patients a view into parts of their electronic medical record and—in many cases—easy ways to contact their provider, make appointments and pay bills.

We are currently making a concerted effort to promote MyPortfolio to our patients. Here’s why:
  • The number of patients using MyPortfolio has a direct impact not only on our reputation as a system that cares about the patient experience, but also on our ability to collect incentive dollars and/or avoid penalties, as part of the federal HITECH Act, Meaningful Use.
  • This month’s awareness campaign will build interest in MyPortfolio among patients and their families, and will help raise awareness among staff so they can answer patient questions about what the portal has to offer and encourage patients to sign up.
  • The most exciting development in our MyPortfolio service is the provision of a new toll-free number for technical difficulties. Although patients should continue to be directed to contact their primary care provider first for questions or technical issues with MyPortfolio, the awareness campaign will promote the new toll-free number for after-hours support, or when a problem cannot be solved by primary-care office staff. That number is: 844-281-UMMS (844-281-8667).
  • After a formal vendor selection process, a collective group of UMMS leaders agreed that Paragon Development Systems, Inc. (PDS) would meet our diverse organizational and patient needs. PDS, based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, supports patient portals for dozens of US hospitals and health systems including Mayo Clinic, Dignity Health and Bon Secours Health System. The company has been supporting Epic and Meditech patient portals for nearly 10 years.
  • PDS staff responding to the toll-free line have been HIPPA trained and have learned workflows and processes for all portals across the UMMS system. They have a 95% resolution rate on first contact, and will offer our patients services such as activation help, access and navigation troubleshooting, and password resets.
  • Please share the new MyPortfolio fact sheet with your staff members, as it provides important information that staff will need to be able to answer questions and encourage patients to investigate what this free service has to offer.

Take a look at additional MyPortfolio Communication Resources. 

This content is for Internal Use only.