Connected Patient Portal Overview and Data Management
When a patient connects an external portal (e.g., Epic MyChart) to SigmaMD, selected health information is automatically imported into the patient’s chart.
Does the Imported Data Expire?
No.
Once data is imported into SigmaMD, it remains in the patient’s chart indefinitely.
If the external connection expires, SigmaMD simply stops refreshing new data. Previously imported records are not removed.
Important: Data Imports Automatically
Imported data does not require clinician review before appearing in the chart.
For this reason:
- Patients should be careful to connect the correct portal to the correct patient chart.
- Patients who are caregivers should ensure they are in the correct patient chart before initiating a portal connection.
Patient Control Over What Gets Imported
When connecting a portal, the patient chooses which health resources to share. For example, they may import:
- Problems
- Allergies
- Medications
- Lab results
- Other available records
Some patients may choose to share all resources, while others may select only specific categories.
Imported data is visible:
- In the SigmaMD EMR (for clinicians)
- In the SigmaMD patient portal app (for the patient)
How to Identify Imported Data
On the patient chart, each health resource includes a Source column.
This displays the name of the originating institution (e.g., hospital or health system).
How Long Does the Connection Stay Active?
During connection, the patient selects how long access remains active.
- Some institutions allow connections up to one year.
- Others allow shorter durations.
- The duration options are determined by the originating institution.
If the selected duration is one month or longer, SigmaMD refreshes connected data automatically every 14 days while access remains active.
When the connection expires:
- No new data is pulled.
- Previously imported data remains in the chart.