Information Blocking & Interoperability

With AveraChart, you get real-time access to your medical information — like lab, pathology and diagnostic imaging results. Your physician’s notes are also part of your chart, and many times you may see test results and documents before your Avera care team contacts you to review them.

This timely access to your health information lets you:

  • Be more in control of your health care.
  • Create a more collaborative relationship between you and your care team.
  • Share access to your health information with family members.
  • Download your electronic health information.

Federal Regulations and Requirements for Health Information

Avera works with its AveraChart portal developer to implement updates guided by federal regulations, primarily issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

These regulations often focus on promoting interoperability between health systems, so you can coordinate care between health care facilities. They also aim to improve patient access to health information, restricting what information a health system can block you from accessing.

This increased sharing of patient information:

  • Helps you manage your patient information.
  • Allows you and your provider to coordinate care more effectively.
  • Improves health outcomes and reduces costs.

Sharing AveraChart Access

You can share your health information with family members and other individuals, referred to as proxy access. See how to request proxy access or remove someone with proxy access on your account.

When federal regulations increase your access to electronic health information, anyone with proxy access can also access the expanded information. This includes lab and other test results, oncology records, obstetrics (pregnancy) information, behavioral health information and more. We recommend you review who has proxy access to your account regularly.

Talk to our Avera care team if you have concerns or questions about proxy access to your account.

Downloading Electronic Health Information

AveraChart patients and proxy users can download a copy of their medical record from the AveraChart patient portal. See how to request it in our patient handbook.

Please allow up to 10 business days to review and process your request. You’ll receive an email when the file becomes available to download from your AveraChart patient portal. The file will only be available to download for seven days.

Medical records download to a ZIP folder that contains each visit and associated documentation, along with clinical and financial information. It only contains Avera medical records stored in an electronic format. If you need older records or only certain records or visits, please request a Release of Information at 833-821-9944.