When Your Child Turns 12, Your Access to Their Medical Records Changes
If you currently can see your child's information in My Duke Health, you will still have proxy access to their record. We have made significant improvements so you will now be able to see nearly all the information you are used to seeing when your child was younger.
As a child enters adolescence, NC law supports teen confidentiality for care in very specific circumstances; those aspects of care are related to behavioral health, sexual health, and pregnancy. This law aligns with our commitment to preserve provider/teen patient confidentiality and improve the health of our teen patients.
If you do not already have a proxy account to view your teens records, please speak with your teens clinical team at their next visit.
Full Access Account vs. Former Privacy-Protected Standard Access Account
If you had full-access proxy account for your teen, your proxy permission will automatically be updated, and you will continue to see many of the features you expected with full-access.
If you had a privacy-protected standard access account in the past, your proxy permission will automatically be updated, and you will be able to make and view appointments, refill medications, and receive letters and forms from your provider.
Neither proxy account type (full or privacy-protected) will have access to a teen's confidential care visit information.
If you believe you need full access to your teen's records, please talk to their doctor.
As a Proxy, You Can Access Your Teen's Medical Records
Your proxy-linked account will give you privacy-protected access to your teen's information so you can help them navigate their career at Duke Health. As a proxy, you will be able to:
- See and Schedule appointments for your teen
- Message their providers
- Receive appointment reminders
- View provider notes and test results after a teen's visit
- View and order refills of your teenager's medications
- Receive letters, documents, and forms, such as requests for sports physicals
Please make sure your contact information is up to date so you can receive these reminders.
Your Teen Will Continue to Have Access to Confidential Information
In very specific rare situations, proxies will not be able to view information related to a confidential care visit. If your teen has their own My Duke Health account, they will continue to have private access to their medical chart and confidential communication with their provider, as is protected by law. This encourages the teen to be open with their provider and encourages them to ask questions and start taking control fo their health. However, your teen's provider will encourage your teen to discuss all matters with their parents/guardians when confidential care is requested.
If Your Teen Wants Their Own My Duke Health Account
Your teen may set up a My Duke Health account when they reach the age of 12.
- You must first obtain a proxy account for your child by speaking with the staff at your child's provider's office.
- The teen must have their own personal email address and unique phone number
- From within the parent/guardian proxy account for the teen, navigate to the sharing menu
- Select "Request Account for Minor (12-17)", where you will be asked to complete electronic consent forms giving Duke permission to activate the account for the teen.
- An access code will be generated code will be generated that must be delivered from a Duke Health provider to a teen in person or to the teen's personal email address. Due to state law, an activation code cannot be provided to a parent or guardian.
- The teen will use that activation code to establish their own account to which the proxy will have access. Click here to use your activation code.