Adult proxy access

Common questions and answers about accessing medical records for an adult who is not able to make their own health care decisions.

At Kaiser Permanente Washington, only legally recognized representatives with a durable power of attorney (DPOA) for health care or letters of guardianship can get access to online medical records for an adult with diminished capacity. This is called proxy access and is similar to the access a parent would have for their child.

A legally recognized representative is someone who may act on behalf of a patient who isn’t competent and can’t make their own health care treatment decisions. Though there are many ways to qualify as a legally recognized representative, not all recognized representatives are eligible for proxy access. The representative needs legal documentation to prove that they have that authority. Documentation includes a DPOA for health care or letters of guardianship.
 

  1. Only those with a DPOA for health care or letters of guardianship can request access.

    Make sure you’re signed in to your own kp.org account. Click “My Records” on the main menu at the top, then “Get Access to an Adult's Medical Records.”

    If the adult you’re representing is a Kaiser Permanente member but you aren’t, contact Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711) to get an ID number that can be used to register. To register online, go to kp.org, click “Register” and “Create my account.” After registering, sign in and follow the steps above to request access.

  2. Fill out and submit the request adult access form.

  3. Your request will be reviewed to verify appropriate legal documentation is in place. This review process may take some time, and we’ll notify you when it is complete.

  4. Once this information is verified, proxy access will be granted and allow you to view online medical records of the adult you represent through your own kp.org account.

 

Representatives with a DPOA for health care or legal guardianship for another adult can do the following and more:

  • Send a secure message to the patient’s care team
  • View and request medication refills
  • View immunization records
  • View upcoming visits
  • View certain health information including current health conditions, allergies, health reminders, and medical histories, as well as most visit notes, after-visit summaries, medications, and lab test results
  • Securely check in for appointments online
  • Schedule and cancel appointments at kp.org
  • Complete questionnaires attached to upcoming appointments or assigned by the patient’s care team.
     
A member’s kp.org account should only be accessible to that individual member. This ensures the safety and security of important personal information. Proxy access allows you, as a legal representative for someone else, to help manage their health care needs from your own member account.