Patients like immediate access to medical test results

Patients want access to medical test results as soon as they can get them through their electronic health records.

A new study found patients overwhelmingly want to see their test results regardless of whether their physicians examined the results – and even when findings are not normal. The results did cause worry among patients, and that was more common among patients with abnormal results.

The study was the largest to date to examine effects of the 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule that mandated immediate electronic availability of test results to patients.

Releasing the results could empower patients to better manage their health. However, the researchers acknowledged...