August 1, 2014 - Gone are the days when patients were satisfied with just a yearly checkup. Today, over 500 hospitals are using MEDITECH’s Patient and Consumer Health Portal to connect with their communities beyond traditional appointments.
We recently spoke with several healthcare professionals about how they’ve personally seen patient portals improve communication, strengthen patient-provider relationships, and encourage overall wellness.
Convenient and Patient-Centered
“It’s important to remember that everyone is, at one time or another, a patient—including caregivers,” says Katie Boston-Leary, MBA, MHA, BSN, CNOR, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient care services at Union Hospital of Cecil County.
“As a mom, having access to a patient portal has been very helpful. My daughter goes to summer camp, and it’s been so great to be able to access her health record from home to print her vaccinations, instead of having to pick them up from the doctor’s office.”
For hospitals preparing to implement a portal, Boston-Leary recommends establishing an advisory council which includes patients and families, to give them ownership and opportunities for feedback.
“The portal is a great tool for patients, and I think getting them involved from the start can help to get people vested and motivated for a successful launch,” she says.
Seamless Communication
Once your patients are signed up for the portal, it’s important for physicians to follow through with using it, notes Kim Maples, BSN, RN, CHTS-CP, systems analyst at Citizens Memorial Hospital.
“My father was excited to communicate with his primary care physician through the patient portal, and his physician was very quick to respond,” she says. “On the other hand, my mother ended up switching primary care providers, because she wanted someone who would use a portal and be responsive.”
Maples sees the popularity of patient portals as a natural outgrowth of patients’ expanding internet presence. “Both caregivers and patients are online at all times, thanks to smartphones and tablets,” Maples says.
“It makes sense that most of us would rather connect through online messaging rather than using the telephone, possibly having to leave a message, and waiting for a return call. Online patient portals really embody the future of more seamless provider and patient communication.”
Faster Access to Information
Quicker patient access to lab results was one benefit that Avera Health saw right away with their portal, according to Jennifer Stearns, BSN, RN, clinical integration analyst. She recalls an instance where it helped one family to prepare for a difficult diagnosis.
"One of our patients, a child, got abnormal lab results back quickly through the portal, prior to receiving a call from the physician. Her parents were able to react quickly, preparing questions for the child's physician, and were ready to hear the treatment plan when the physician called them shortly thereafter," she says.
“Empowering patients and families to take charge of their health and well-being, that’s what the patient portal is really all about.”