Unlocking Health: Exploring the Benefits of Digital Health Lockers

on
July 21, 2023

Digital Health Locker - Online medical document storage facility

With the help of Digital Health Locker, individuals can share their medical documents and reduce the use of physical documents.

What is a Digital Health Locker?

Digital Health Locker is a safe cloud-based platform that allows users to upload, save, and share their medical records digitally. A digital and consent-based health data management system enables people to interact with the digital health ecosystem developed under ABDM.

Health Locker reduces the need to carry physical copies of medications, lab results, and other medical records. Instead, it enables users to instantaneously share their medical records with any doctor anywhere in the nation. As a result, digital health locker gives Indian residents digital empowerment by offering a free, all-inclusive online solution for managing their medical records wherever they are.

How are Digital Health Lockers important?

Two years back, the pandemic that hit worldwide emphasised how crucial it is to manage everything online, including healthcare requirements. Patients are increasingly choosing to consult doctors online.

Health records can be electronically transferred between patients and doctors thanks to services like Digital Health Locker. The COVID vaccination certificates can be downloaded from CoWIN and stored in the health locker so users can distribute them electronically.

Features of Digital Health Locker

A Digital Health Locker has the following special characteristics:

  • Online medical records management.
  • Sharing health records with hospitals and doctors via QR codes.
  • Access to the free digital health locker is for life.
  • The complete family may fit in one locker.
  • Quicker health diagnosis and immediate sharing of medical records with physicians.
  • Automatic retrieval of medical records from clinics and hospitals.
  • Total command over medical records while maintaining the highest level of security

Functions of Digital Health Locker

The functions that Digital Health Locker carries out include:

  • Establishing a digital health locker with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) integration for oneself and family members.
  • Obtaining a personal and family Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) number.
  • Sharing and uploading medical records with healthcare practitioners, facilities, and outside parties.
  • Collecting and digitally preserving medical records from healthcare providers.
  • Linking one's own and family members' current ABHA numbers.
  • Taking COVID-19 immunisation certificates from CoWIN and keeping them there.

Digital Health Locker and its Benefits

The Digital Health Locker approaches with a few key benefits:

  • More accessibility: Patients can easily access their stored medical documents anywhere in a digital health locker, even during an emergency.  
  • One Locker for the whole family: A single health locker can be utilised to store the medical documents of the whole family effortlessly.
  • No Risk of Losing the Documents: A health locker eliminates the possibility of losing medical records, which is more possible when physical documents are involved.
  • No Need for Bulky Folders: Using a  eliminates the requirement to bring heavy folders of medical records with you whenever you go to the doctor.
  • Updated Health Records: Since a health locker can automatically retrieve and store any prescription, test results, discharge summary, etc., as soon as they are created, a patient's medical records are accordingly updated.
  • Faster and More Precise Diagnosis: Even if the patient cannot recollect past medical issues, storing medical records in a health locker will enable a faster and more accurate diagnosis.
  • Safe storage of documents: Medical records kept in a health locker are fully safe and secure and can only be accessed with the owner's permission.
  • Network of Trusted Doctors: An ABDM-integrated health locker only permits the exchange of health records with a network of registered doctors who have been vetted and are in good standing.
  • Interoperable Health Records: The medical records kept in a health locker are interchangeable and are simple to share between various healthcare providers.

Kickstart your digital health journey

Create your Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) address to engage with the Government’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and form your Digital Health Locker!

How to Set Up a Digital Health Locker at Eka Care?

Follow a few steps to set up a Digital health locker in India at Eka Care:

  • Download the Eka.Care App.
  • Enter your “phone number” or use your “Google email address” on Eka. Care login page to log in.
  • Those who are first-time users have to opt for the ‘Sign-up' option.
  • Enter your personal details as asked: name, date of birth, city name, etc.
  • Accept the terms and conditions and submit the details.
  • Once verified, your Digital health locker NDHM is set up.
  • Now access your vaccine certificate online.
  • Create ABHA.
  • Manage your health records.