Patient Portals

Research Shows How Patient Portals Impact Patient Care

Patient portals, which are secure web based applications, provide patients the ease of access to their health care records at any time. Some portals include features such as, obtaining prescription refills and lab results, and communicating with their provider. With close to 80% of the population in North America using the internet to seek out health information, portals continue to gain popularity. The use of portals and personal health record systems (PHR’s) is rapidly growing as the government continues to offer incentives to healthcare providers who demonstrate Meaningful Use of such systems (EHR Incentive Programs). This incentive program, is set forth by U.S. government, healthcare organizations will receive reimbursements when they meet certain guidelines in the use of electronic health record systems. As there are three stages to the incentive program, the first stage included providers having to be able to provide patients with electronic copies of their health information. In Stage Two, the focus shifted to, “providing patients the ability to view online, download, and transmit their health information”, as Julie Dooling explains in the Journal of Health Information Management (Dooling, 33). Patient portals have the capability of accomplishing all of these tasks.

Portal usage is increasing and patient care is directly impacted as enrollees are experiencing the benefits of such systems first hand. By allowing patients easy access to their health information, providers are then able to center their care on the patient. Three of the most vital benefits of portal systems and improving patient care are, increasing patient engagement, improved communications and improved outcomes.

In order to increase patient involvement and get patients engaged with their care, we need to identify what their needs are as well as what is important to them when it comes to their health care delivery. As each portal...