Patient-Owned Health Records: What 240+ Clinicians Really Think

Patient records are still scattered. That was the starting point for our latest poll, where we asked over 240 clinicians about the future of patient-owned, portable health records. Their answers reveal both optimism and concern—and highlight where the real work lies.

The Value Clinicians See

When asked about the top benefit of patient-owned records, the response was clear:

✓ 69% pointed to continuity of care.
✓ 21% highlighted emergency safety.
✓ 7% said better second opinions.
✓ 3% mentioned lower admin costs.

Continuity of care stood far above the rest. Clinicians believe that when records follow the patient, care becomes safer, smoother, and more effective.

The Biggest Barrier

Optimism was tempered by one strong concern: privacy.

✓ 57% said privacy risks are the main barrier.
✓ 22% pointed to adoption by hospitals.
✓ 15% mentioned technical standards.
✓ 6% cited low patient demand.

Privacy outweighed technology, standards, and even institutional adoption. Clinicians are telling us that without trust, no amount of technical progress will matter.

The Timeline

Despite these concerns, most clinicians are hopeful.

✓ 71% believe patient-owned records are achievable within 5 years.
✓ 29% believe it’s too complex.

That optimism signals momentum. But it also means we must address the trust gap quickly if we want progress to match expectation.

The Takeaway

Clinicians want patient-owned records. They see real value in improving continuity of care. They believe the technology is possible soon. But privacy remains the central challenge.

The future of portable, patient-owned health records will not be decided by standards alone. It will be decided by whether patients and clinicians trust the system to keep information safe.

At Clara.Care, we’re listening closely. Documentation, trust, and privacy go hand in hand. And building confidence in these areas will be key to making portable records a reality.

Want to dive deeper? See the full poll results here → https://clara.care

Download the report here.