FAQs on the 21st Century Cures Act

What is the 21st Century Cures Act?

The Cures Act is a federal law designed to promote innovation in patient data delivery and enhance electronic health information sharing. You will be able to access this information more quickly beginning July 10, 2021. 

What additional personal health information will the Cures Act now make available to me? 

In addition to the ‘After Visit Summary’ or 'Continuity Care Document' you typically receive when your care visit is complete, you will now have access to your physician or care team member’s detailed clinical notes. 

Users who have proxy access to your NorthShoreConnect account will also be able to view your clinical notes. We recommend that you review who has proxy access to your account by going to the ‘Account Setting’ menu and clicking the ‘Personalize’ activity. 

Where can I access the additional clinical notes? 

You may access the information via NorthShoreConnect and your Swedish Hospital portal. 
On NorthShoreConnect

• Log-in to your account and click ‘Visits’ at the top of the page.
• Locate your associated visit and click ‘View notes’ to see your provider or care team’s clinical notes. 

• Log-in to your account and go to ‘Health Record’ at the top of the page.
• Click ‘Reports’ from right side menu items.
• Locate your associated visit and click on report to see your physician or care team’s clinical notes.

How do clinical notes differ from my after visit summary?

Clinical notes are medical documents used by physicians and care providers to communicate with each other. These documents include medical language and terminology, abbreviations, and treatment information that may sound technical and at times possibly unfamiliar. In addition, at times, the verbiage may appear blunt or direct. These documents are one tool providers use to communicate relevant information and clinical opinions of the care providers in a way that allows common understanding of the clinical context. 

What if I have questions about my clinical notes?

Please know that your medical team is available to address any questions you have about your care or health status, as well as that of your child or other proxy’s care. 

• If you have questions that require a short response from your physician, please use the NorthShoreConnect ‘Message My Doctor’s Care Team’ function. 
• If you have many questions and you wish to discuss in greater detail, please schedule a follow up appointment with your provider. This visit would be billed based on the scope of visit and any additional services provided. You can schedule an appointment via NorthShoreConnect or by contacting your provider’s office.
• If you have questions, please contact your primary care physician.

What if I would like to have my clinical notes amended?

For NorthShoreConnect
f you would like to request that a note be amended, you may send a ‘Customer Service Question’ through NorthShoreConnect ‘Medical Record Correction’ in order to have your request further reviewed. However, clinical notes are part of your physician(s) and care team’s assessment; and therefore, any amendment request will be at NorthShore’s discretion based on a review of the note. Factual information will not be amended or removed. 

Amendment requests to an Independent physician’s outpatient clinical notes can be addressed by contacting the Independent physician’s office directly.   

If you do not have a NorthShoreConnect account but would like to view our Amendment request policy, please click here.

For Swedish Hospital Portal

If you would like to request that a note be amended, please call Privacy at 847-982-4450 in order to have your request further reviewed. However, clinical notes are part of your physician(s) and care team’s assessment; and therefore, any amendment request will be at Swedish Hospital’s discretion based on a review of the note. Factual information will not be amended or removed.

How can I access my complete medical history?

Patients may request a full copy of their NorthShore medical record, including historical notes, via the ‘Medical Records’ tab in NorthShoreConnect Medical Records Activity or contact the Independent provider’s office for outpatient records.

Patients may request a full copy of their Swedish Hospital medical record by calling Privacy at 847-982-4450.