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NextGen Healthcare is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the Apple® Health integration with NextGen® Office by December 5, 2023. NextGen® Office EHR clients will now be able to offer their patients a way to securely download and view their health records from the Apple Health app on iPhone® devices. This integration uses the Patient Access API capabilities that are already part of our ONC-HIT certified EHR platform. Patients will simply download the Apple® Health app and use their NextGen® Patient Portal credentials to log in, download, view, and share their records. NextGen® Office is making enrollment as easy as possible by automatically enabling this service for NextGen® Office EHR clients. However, if you would like to opt out, you may do so here. After the launch, NextGen Healthcare recommends that you inform your patients about the availability of this solution and provide basic instructions about how to find your practice in the Apple Health app and login using their portal credentials. You can reach out to health_records_support@apple.com to receive an invitation link to access your account in Apple after its enabled.
Apple Health Integration with NextGen Office
NextGen® Office is integrated with Apple® Health. Patients can securely download and view their health records from the Apple® Health app on an iPhone® device.
Apple® Health on iPhone® Devices
NextGen Healthcare will be launching the Apple® Health integration with NextGen® Office by December 5, 2023. This launch is exciting news for NextGen® Office EHR clients, who can now offer their patients a way to securely download and view their health records from the Apple® Health app on an iPhone® device.
This complimentary solution can help your practice to increase patient engagement and convenience while reducing the administrative burden of responding to patient requests for access in the following ways:
- Empower patients to access their health records, thereby encouraging them to be engaged in their own health and facilitating more informed conversations.
- Organize patient medical information so patients can view it on their iPhone® devices, helping them to understand their overall health and provide necessary medical history to new providers.
- Combine patient health records from different participating medical institutions with patients' self-reported data from fitness trackers and remote monitoring devices, ensuring continuity of care.
- Facilitate patient discussions with providers with the help of the the Apple® Health app, thereby improving treatment decisions and filling gaps in records.
Apple® Health Integration with nextgen® office faq
You can read answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Apple® Health integration with NextGen® Office.
What is Apple® Health?
Apple® Health on an iPhone® device uses the latest SMART on FHIR® standard, which allows users to download information on allergies, problems, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, clinical documents, and vitals, such as heart rate and blood pressure. This new integration with Apple® Health on iPhone® devices uses NextGen® Office Patient Portal credentials and OAuth 2.0. To maintain a lasting connection, patients need to authenticate once, and the system automatically shares new health data.
How does the Apple® Health integration work?
The Apple® Health integration uses the NextGen® Patient Access API capabilities that are already part of our Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)-certified EHR platform. Patients can download the Apple® Health app and use their NextGen® Office Patient Portal credentials to log on, download, view, and share their records. NextGen® Office makes enrollment as easy as possible by automatically turning on this service for NextGen® Office EHR clients. You can opt out here.
Is the solution secure?
This solution relies on technology certified by the federal government to protect the privacy and security of patient information. Specifically, the technology uses Health Level Seven® (HL7®) FHIR® Release 4.0.1, which is the standard for data exchange via secure application programming interfaces (APIs). Therefore, patient data is stored only in your secure NextGen® Office system or on the patient's encrypted device. Because no data is stored or exchanged with Apple, no business associate agreement is necessary. For Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) information about interoperability and patient access, go to this website. If you have concerns about the privacy and security of patient health information, consult your legal and compliance advisers.
What does my practice need to do?
NextGen® Office makes enrollment as easy as possible by automatically turning this service on for NextGen® Office EHR clients. You can opt out here. After the Apple® Health integration, you should inform your patients about the availability of this solution and provide basic instructions about how to find your practice in the Apple® Health app and log on using their NextGen® Office Patient Portal credentials.
Note: For Apple support, your practice can email health_records_support@apple.com. You can obtain an invitation link to access your created account in the Apple® Business Register, which allows your practice to manage your Apple® Health account. To learn how patients sign in to accounts and download health records, refer to the Download health records on iPhone section in the iPhone® user guide.
Initial Logon to the Patient Account in the Apple® Health App
Patients can log on and authenticate in the Apple® Health app to maintain a lasting connection. The system automatically shares new health data.
- Patients search for your practice in the Apple® Health app to add their account or scan the QR code (if you have provided one).
Note: NextGen Healthcare recommends that practices contact Apple to create an Apple® account and generate the QR code.
The NextGen® Office Patient Portal logon window opens.
- Patients enter their NextGen® Office Patient Portal logon credentials.
The patient’s name and date of birth appear.
- Select Continue.
The one-time access request window opens.
- The patient selects which medical data they want to download and then selects Allow.
The Account Added message appears. After downloading the data, the patient can see their records on their devices.
- After the account has been added, the patient can see the selected medical data under Health Records.
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