NMC Commentary
02.13.2018

Have you made access to my medical records easier with the new buildings?

Yes! With the opening of the new Medical Office Building at the front of Northwestern Medical Center’s campus, we have been able to make assistance with accessing your medical records even more convenient!  Plus, we now have access to records through our online patient portals – and we have the beginnings of a new app in process where you will be able to see your lab results (and more in the future) right on your phone!

We are excited that NMC’s Release of Information Specialist Mari Donna is now s in the lobby of the Medical Office Building.  She is situated right next to the Northwestern Urgent Care check out station.  For quick easy access we also have plenty of parking right at the entrance!.  .  The specialist will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday and records requested in advance can be picked up until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mari, and her colleagues who will be covering the station when she is away, are also skilled at helping individuals access NMC’s electronic portals which provide patients with direct access to important health information and strengthen communication between providers and patients.  The portals have grown to be valued tools for many of our patients and have increased interaction between patients, physicians and advanced practice providers, and hospital-based services. For those of you who are not yet familiar with our portal, here is an overview of how to access the portal and what you will find in this secure online tool.  You can access NMC’s Patient Portal by visiting www.northwestern.org/portal.  Here, you will find two paths to your health records: one for our hospital-based system and one for our physician practice based system. In NMC’s hospital portal, you will be able to access a health record summary and update your contact information and view a wide variety of documentation and clinical results.  In NMC’s physician practice portal, you will be able to communicate with your physicians and advanced practice providers and view or request office appointments.  You’ll have access to your medication list and results for lab tests.  You will be able to access your health record summary, and update your medical history and contact information. Mari will be able to help individuals access the patient portals and provide you with the log-in information you need to do so from home. Mari will also be able to show individuals the upcoming trial of our new app that will allow you to access your lab results from your phone – as the beginning of our implementation of a comprehensive app as we continue to advance our electronic health records which have earned NMC national “Most Wired” status for two years in a row!

As an added benefit, this provides another staff member stationed in the Medical Office Building lobby to assist patients and visitors with any of their other needs.  Cross-training will allow assistance with registration, and as that building is still new for our community, another person to help with wayfinding has proven to be a welcomed addition.

At NMC, our mission is exceptional care for our community. Our team is committed to providing an exceptional experience for every patient and visitor, every time, always.  This latest move is another step on that journey as we work to continually improve access, convenience, and efficiency.  Thank you for entrusting your care to us.

— Jill Berry Bowen, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer