considerations to take when developing a patient portal

by Gisselle Upton MD 8 min read

What to Consider Before Implementing a Patient Portal

33 hours ago Aug 14, 2015 · To get your patients to use the portal, make sure you involve marketing and education in your implementation. Your patients need to know the tool exists, understand what it can do, and learn how to use it. Patient portals hold a lot of promise for improving relationships and interaction. >> Go To The Portal


Hospitals and clinics should consider their current EHR vendor, interoperability, budget, and patient priorities to develop portal adoption goals. READ MORE: Patient Portal Use Growing as Engagement Efforts Take Priority

Patient Portal Concerns and Barriers
  • Privacy and Security. The most frequent concern noted by potential patients and caregivers regarding the idea of patient portals was that of privacy and security. ...
  • Provider Face Time. ...
  • Lack of Interest. ...
  • Lack of Technology. ...
  • Usability Issues. ...
  • Medical Language.
Apr 11, 2016

Full Answer

What should you look for in a patient portal?

Aug 14, 2015 · To get your patients to use the portal, make sure you involve marketing and education in your implementation. Your patients need to know the tool exists, understand what it can do, and learn how to use it. Patient portals hold a lot of promise for improving relationships and interaction.

How can portals improve patient engagement and patient care?

The portal holds a unique position to link the patient and healthcare provider, but requires a proactive approach. 7 To initiate this process, consider having a kiosk, laptop, or tablet to orient patients and families to the uses and importance of the patient portal. Provide user-friendly instructions that highlight the portal's benefits.

How do you decide if your organization needs a portal?

Mar 17, 2017 · To realize these advantages, healthcare decision makers should ask themselves the following questions when developing a custom patient portal: 1. How easy is this to use? If your portal is only...

Are patient portals the future of the healthcare industry?

Mar 16, 2020 · Contact us to know how our EHR/EMR experts could help you with Integrated Patient Portal Development. According to the legislation, an EHR system should provide access to the protected health information (PHI) about patients (personal health records) via Patient Portal. The CMS Finalized Rule mandates that payers and health systems should provide …

What must be done when creating a patient portal?

4 Steps to Successful Patient Portal Adoption, IntegrationOutline clinic or hospital needs, goals.Select a patient portal vendor.Create provider buy-in.Market the patient portal to end-users.Jun 6, 2017

How do you set up a patient portal system?

How do I sign up for the Patient Portal?Click this link.Select “Sign Up Today” in the lower left-hand corner.Follow the steps to enter your information, verify your identity, and set your password.That's it! ... Allow family members to manage your care.View test and lab results.Request or schedule appointments.More items...•Apr 11, 2017

What elements should be incorporated into a patient portal?

A robust patient portal should include the following features:Clinical summaries.Secure (HIPAA-compliant) messaging.Online bill pay.New patient registration.Ability to update demographic information.Prescription renewals and contact lens ordering.Appointment requests.Appointment reminders.More items...

How do you improve patient portals?

Here are some ways to encourage patient enrollment:Include information about the patient portal on your organization's website.Provide patients with an enrollment link before the initial visit to create a new account.Encourage team members to mention the patient portal when patients call to schedule appointments.More items...•Jun 25, 2020

What are the benefits and challenges of using patient portals?

What are the Top Pros and Cons of Adopting Patient Portals?Pro: Better communication with chronically ill patients.Con: Healthcare data security concerns.Pro: More complete and accurate patient information.Con: Difficult patient buy-in.Pro: Increased patient ownership of their own care.Feb 17, 2016

What are the advantages of patient portals to the patient and to the healthcare facility quizlet?

The patient portal supports two-way communication, which allows the patient to work with physicians between patient visits, request appointments, and receive reminders. These reminders can be for appointments, need for follow-up, and more.

How do you optimize patient portals for patient engagement and meet meaningful use requirements?

Meet Meaningful Use Requirements The portal must be engaging and user- friendly, and must support patient-centered outcomes. The portal also must be integrated into clinical encounters so the care team uses it to convey information, communicate with patients, and support self-care and decision-making as indicated.

What are the duties of a portal in hospital?

The Portal Enrollment Specialist uses resources to anticipate, address, and overcome barriers to care and to guide patients through the health care system. Portal Enrollment Specialist may assist patients by updating demographic and pharmacy information.

Why should patients use patient portal?

A patient portal is a website for your personal health care. The online tool helps you to keep track of your health care provider visits, test results, billing, prescriptions, and so on. You can also e-mail your provider questions through the portal. Many providers now offer patient portals.Aug 13, 2020

How can patient compliance with portal registration be increased?

Provide print materials in the office. • Leave portal pamphlets in the exam room for patients to read while they wait to see the physician. ... Promote the portal online. • ... Prepare your office and staff. • ... Adapt existing office workflows. • ... Equip your staff with talking points. • ... Offer incentives to patients and staff. •

Engage Patients The Right Ways

  • Once you have identified a specific set of primary patient users, it is time to determine what will engage those patients and keep them returning. What information and features will they value most? How must that information be presented initially and over time? Healthcare consumers w…
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Understand & Address The Concerns of Clinicians

  • Patients are not the only users who stand to benefit from patient software. Clinicians — including physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners — can benefit as well. As noted by K.T. Fuji and K.A. Galt, “Healthcare providers want access to a patient’s aggregated health record to enhance their own abilities to accurately and comprehensively treat and monitor the patient.” While our advice …
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Considering Additional Stakeholders

  • Patients and clinicians are unquestionably the primary users of patient portals and other patient health systems, but they are not the only stakeholders. To develop a truly effective and usable solution, you must be aware of the “hidden” actors that may also use — or be influenced by — patient software. In a healthcare setting, a number of user groups will be affected by the implem…
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