Data and security when using the MyChart app
We take great care to ensure that health information is kept private and secure. MyChart uses the latest encryption technology and is fully compliant with UK laws relating to privacy.
What health information you can see on the app
MyChart is a window into your electronic health record that East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Trust holds to give you the best possible care at Ipswich and Colchester hospitals and in our community services.
MyChart only shows information about your care at our hospital. This means information about your health that other healthcare providers have, such as your GP or dentist, will not show in MyChart (unless you have also shared it with us).
If you are having care at more than one hospital and they use a version of MyChart, you will be able to link your MyChart at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Trust with your existing account. This means you will see the information from both places in MyChart.
If you have care at both Ipswich Hospital and Colchester Hospital, you do not need to link your MyChart account. We share one system, so your health record will update automatically.
Security settings
We recommend you use a personal email address to sign up to MyChart. We recommend that you avoid using a shared email address to set up an account.
MyChart has several tools to keep your information safe, such as passwords, face recognition and fingerprint log in and two-step authentication. You can set your security settings in MyChart. Make sure to keep your log in details safe and do not share them.
To keep your health information secure, please be careful who you share your health record with.
Sharing your health record with other clinicians
You can share your MyChart health record securely with someone on a temporary basis, such as your GP or if you are receiving treatment somewhere else.
You can give healthcare professionals or other people a code that gives them access to your MyChart information for a short time.
Log in to MyChart and click ‘share your health information’ on the menu on the left. You can add their details and they will be emailed a code to access your MyChart information.
Connect your health apps with MyChart
You might use Apple Health or Google Fit apps to keep track of your health. These apps automatically track data like steps and sleep, or you might enter your own information like blood pressure and weight. Your phone, smart watch or electronic tablet collects this data.
To help monitor your condition, your healthcare team might talk to you about ‘integrating your device’ with MyChart. This means that the health and fitness data collected on your device could be automatically added to MyChart, and made available to your healthcare team.
If you choose not to link your device, you can manually upload the data.
How to link MyChart with your health apps
A member of your healthcare team needs to switch on the integration function. Once they have done this, you can take the following steps.
- log in to your MyChart
- select Track my health from the menu and click Manage connections
- select Connect my account to link MyChart with your chosen health and fitness app
- your chosen health app will open and you can select which data you want to share with MyChart
After this, you will be able to see health data that has been integrated into MyChart and see trends over time.
Information security
If you decide to use a health or fitness app, please be aware that East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is not responsible for the data collected whilst registering or being used. It is your responsibility if agreeing to the terms of the app and downloading onto personal devices.
If you do not use these apps, it is not essential to have them to complete your health information in MyChart.
We recommend that your personal device security is kept up to date. This includes updating software when prompted by the manufacturer. You should stay alert for phishing and be mindful of suspicious activity. We recommend using 2-factor authentication (face or thumbprint recognition, or codes) when using MyChart or any other online services.
Apple device
If you access MyChart from an Apple device
If you use an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, the Apple keeps the data on the user device, and it is transferred to the MyChart app on the device.
Android device
If you access MyChart from an Android device
If you use an Android device and use the Google Fit app, this data is held on the device and is transferred to the MyChart app on the device.