MyLinks Frequently Asked Questions

What is MyLinks?


MyLinks uses new technology to allow you to electronically gather your medical records from all your doctors and store it in one place, fully under your control. It is different from a patient portal because it allows you to have one place for all your data – rather than having it fractured across multiple portals.

We are taking one step at a time and want to help you understand where we are now and where we are going. The 3 important pillars of MyLinks allow you to: gather and share your records, connect with researchers, and connect with other patients. In this first version, you can gather and share your records. We will soon add the ability for you to connect with researchers. Later, we will add the ability for you to connect with other patients via forums and private chats.

Right now, health systems are beginning to install new technology using (FHIR pronounced “Fire”) to enable you to gather your health data. If you do not see all your health clinics listed, let us know the name of the group and we will contact them to find out their timeline in installing the new FHIR technology so you can gather your information from them. Please email us at Support@MyLinks.com. You can also let your clinic know that you want to use MyLinks and have them contact us at the same email address. MyLinks is free to you and to your doctors!

How much does “MyLinks” cost to use?


MyLinks is free – it doesn’t cost a penny!

Once I’m connected, what kind of data from my healthcare provider will show in my health record?


Your health record can include the following possible health information: Medications, Allergies, Conditions, Vital Signs, Lab Results, Equipment, Procedures, Family History, Immunizations, and Documents. This data will only appear if your doctor has entered it into your health record. New laws in the future will increase the types of items that you will be able to import from health systems. The advancement of FHIR technology and government laws requiring data sharing will help increase the list of sharable items.

Who owns my data once it is in MyLinks?


You do! The data in your account is yours. You get to decide to share or not share, and what items you want to share.

If I don’t have a portal account with my healthcare provider, can I still use MyLinks?


Yes, you can still use all the other features of MyLinks but if you want to import your data from your healthcare provider, you’ll need to create a portal login for their health system. If you need help with that, you can ask your healthcare provider how to create a portal account with them.

What should I do if I don’t see my healthcare provider on the list?


Email us at support@MyLinks.com. Please give us as much information as possible (their phone number, website address, email address, etc.) that you can. This will help us find the right organization. Odds are the healthcare provider you’re looking for isn’t yet able to connect with MyLinks. We’re adding providers as quickly as we can, so check back!

How can I share my health data with a family member?


Log in to your MyLinks account. Then click on Share Health Record.

How can I share my health data with a family member for a limited time?


Log in to your MyLinks account. Then click on Share Health Record. There are multiple ways to share. The different buttons will step you through the choices.

How can I see who created a particular data item?


Log in to MyLinks. Then click on View Health Record. Click on the Conditions, Medications, etc., that you want to view more information about. Then click Details. The page will expand and show you the creator and date of the information.

How can I get my health data from my healthcare provider to appear in MyLinks?


Log in to MyLinks. Click Gather Health Records. Search and select your healthcare location. Select Get Medical Record. A new window will open, where you will log in to your healthcare portal. Click Import. Your healthcare data will now appear in your MyLinks personal health record.

How can I connect Fitbit® with my MyLinks account?


Log in to MyLinks. Click on the Health Record drop down menu and select View. Click Devices on the bottom left. Click on the device name. Select Authorize. When the device account log in page opens, log in to your account. The page will display all of the permission options. Select Allow. Your device health data will now also display in your MyLinks personal health record. (You will still be able to view it in your device app that came with your device.

How can I connect Withings® with my MyLinks account?


Log in to MyLinks. Click on the Health Record drop down menu and select View. Click Devices on the bottom left. Click on the device name. Select Authorize. When the device account log in page opens, log in to your account. The page will display all of the permission options. Select Allow. Your device health data will now also display in your MyLinks personal health record. (You will still be able to view it in your device app that came with your device.

What browsers does MyLinks support?


To have the best experience with MyLinks on your computer, use a supported, up-to-date browser. You’ll have access to the latest features, as well as receive improved security and performance. MyLinks works on all major phone browsers too!

Is there a MyLinks app for smart phones?


Not at this time, but our MyLinks site is fully responsive and can be used on smartphones and tablets. iPhone and Android apps are coming soon.

I want to stop sharing my record with someone that I previously gave access to. How do I do that?


Log in to your MyLinks account. Click on Share Health Record. Select the Share Access option. Go to the Accounts that can access your account area. Check the box beside their name and click Unlink. They will no longer have access to your records.

Can I receive messages at my MyLinks account?


No, MyLinks does not have an inbox for receiving emails or messages at this time.

I can’t log in to my account, the login button appears to be disabled. What should I do?


Clear your cookies and cache. Close the browser and try again.

When I click “Get Medical Record” nothing happens. What can I do?


Check your pop up settings and make sure pop ups are allowed for mylinks.com. Once you click “Get Medical Records”, a pop up window is supposed to appear that asks you to login to your patient portal. This process authorizes you to gather your medical data and insert them into your personal health record.

Is my MyLinks account and its data safe?


Yes, your data is encrypted during its transit and storage into your account. We take every precaution to make certain your information is safe. We do not share your records. You are able to share/not share with anyone you want.

I want to share just certain items with someone. How do I do that?


Log in to MyLinks. Click on the Share Health Record. Select the Export your health record option. Uncheck the items you don’t want to share. Click Export. You can share your exported file by sending it via MyLinks email or by saving it and printing it out.

I am the proxy for another person. How can I see their data from my login?


Each person must have their own account before you can link them. After setting up an account for the other person, you can log in to their MyLinks account then click Share Health Record then Share Access and follow the directions.
 
Important note: Because an email address is the way we establish unique accounts, you will need a unique email address for each person. An easy way is to set up a Gmail account and add a plus sign to create new email addresses. For instance, you can create MyEmail@gmail.com. Then when creating multiple MyLinks accounts, you can use MyEmail+jamie@gmail.com or any combination you want. Gmail disregards everything after the plus sign so the emails will all flow into your MyEmail@gmail.com email box. MyLinks sees them as unique email addresses to meet the account needs. This is a nice feature of Gmail that most people don’t know about.

How can I delete my account and all my data in MyLinks?


After logging into MyLinks, click on your name in the upper right of the screen, go to My Account, then under Security go to Manage and click Delete Account.

I didn’t receive an email to confirm my MyLinks account? What do I do?


The email confirmation may have gone into your Junk/Spam folder. If you do not find it there, go to the MyLinks login screen and click “Forgot your password?”. This will resend your confirmation email to the address you used when you registered. If you still do not get a confirmation email, it is possible that you mistyped your email address when you registered. In this case, try registering again with the same email address. If it lets you use your email address, this means your previous registration had a typo in your email address.

When I registered for MyLinks, I think I used the wrong email. Can you fix?


If you used the wrong email address, just register again using the correct email address. Unconfirmed email addresses will eventually be deleted if they are not confirmed.

Why can’t I create more than one account with my email address?


We use the email address as the unique identifier for an account. This is a common practice in healthcare. An easy way to have unique addresses is to set up a Gmail account and add a plus sign to create new email addresses. For instance, you can create MyEmail@gmail.com. Then when creating multiple MyLinks accounts, you can use MyEmail+jamie@gmail.com or any combination you want. Gmail disregards everything after the plus sign so the emails will all flow into your MyEmail@gmail.com email box. MyLinks sees them as unique email addresses to meet the account needs. This is a nice feature of Gmail that most people don’t know about.

Does MyLinks replace my patient portal?


Your portal gives you information for a specific clinic. MyLinks allows you to combine all your data from all your clinics into one place. You might decide to also occasionally use your portal if it has features that are not yet available in MyLinks (pay bills, request an appointment, etc.). The difference between your portal and MyLinks is that MyLinks provides a platform for you to have your own copy of your records from multiple healthcare providers. This allows you to see all your records in one location. Another advantage to MyLinks is that you can edit and add to your records to make sure they are correct. (Those edits/additions/deletions will not automatically go back to your provider.) You can also gather and share all your records from MyLinks…another advantage over a portal. MyLinks and portals are different and your clinic will probably decide to keep their portal for other features they have.

What are the benefits of having MyLinks?


  • The biggest advantage is that you get a copy of all your records in an account that is fully controlled by you. A portal belongs to the clinic. If the clinic decides to change to a new electronic medical record, the portal will point to the new electronic medical record which is often empty. In other words…you won’t have access to your historic data once the clinic changes to their new system.
  • Another great advantage is that you can add/delete/edit your own copy of your records to make sure they are correct. (You can’t do that to the clinic’s copy of your records.) If and when you need your records to share with a care giver, they will be correct in MyLinks.
  • You can easily share your records…no calling clinics to ask them to fax over your records. If you are in an emergency situation, having easy and fast access to your current and correct information is important.
  • You can have someone help manage your records, or you can help to manage the account of someone else. When someone is sick, they often need help managing their health. Using the “Share” feature of MyLinks makes that task easy. (See FAQ about proxy access for more information.)
  • We have other nice features that are not available in portals:
    • You can store important information in the Document Section of MyLinks. Things like Advance Directive, Power of Attorney, x-rays, copy of your insurance card/driver’s license/passport…anything that you feel is important that you might want quick and easy access to in the future. All data is encrypted, so only you can see it.
    • You have the ability to keep a journal to see how your health is impacted over a period of time. The journal is very simple at this time but will mature as we progress forward.
    • You can connect your devices to have a single view of your health in one area. We currently are connect to Fitbit and Withings devices. If you are interested in other devices, please email us at Support@MyLinks.com.
    • We are working with teams to understand how to help you find and participate in research. You are completely in control of your data. We do not use or sell your data. Only you can decide to participate in research and share your data.
    • If you want to see a telehealth doc or consulting physician, it is easy for you to share your records with them so they can have a complete picture of your health to give you the best advice. (In MyLinks, go to Share Health Record, then 24 hour, view only for instructions.)

What is the “Documents” section in MyLinks?


When you use MyLinks to import information from your clinic’s health record, the clinic will sometimes also send a document which contains information about you or about a specific visit. If the clinic send this document when you request your records via MyLinks, we will store it in your Documents section. The document usually ends in ‘xml’. You can view the document by clicking “View”. You can also add other items like Advance Directive, Power of Attorney, x-rays, copy of your insurance card/driver’s license/passport…anything that you feel is important that you might want quick and easy access to in the future. All data is encrypted, so only you can see it.

When I correct my information in MyLinks, does it automatically flow back to my doctor?


No, those edits/additions/deletions will not automatically go back to your provider. MyLinks is your own copy of your records. If you would like your doctor to correct or add information to their copy of your records, you will need to contact them.

Can I ask emergency-related questions via MyLinks?


No, MyLinks is not to be used for emergency-related health care issues. If you are experiencing a health care emergency, call 911, or visit the nearest emergency room.