using a patient portal to communicate laboratory test results in community practices

by Sunny Durgan 10 min read

Patient Portal Increases Communication Between …

6 hours ago Using a Patient Portal to Communicate Laboratory Test Results in Community Practices Caitlin Colling , Lynn A. Volk , Chelsea A. Jenter , Marti Dembowitz , David W. Bates , Steven R. Simon . In AMIA 2012, American Medical Informatics Association Annual Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, USA, November 3-7, 2012 . >> Go To The Portal


How are test results delivered to patients?

Using a Patient Portal to Communicate Laboratory Test Results in Community Practices Caitlin Colling , Lynn A. Volk , Chelsea A. Jenter , Marti Dembowitz , David W. Bates , Steven R. Simon . In AMIA 2012, American Medical Informatics Association Annual Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, USA, November 3-7, 2012 .

What do providers send with lab results?

Feb 07, 2018 · When lab results are published to the patient portal, patients receive an e-mail message telling them to check the portal. Providers attach a message explaining the lab results and addressing anticipated questions, such as “Your test results are normal” or “Your cholesterol is high, please make an appointment within the next 30 days to discuss.”

What is the patient portal messaging function?

Nov 30, 2020 · In the case of a COVID-19 test, it may be helpful for patient portals to generate easy-to-understand language to signal a positive or negative result. A message reading, “COVID-19 positive” or “COVID-19 negative” and then allowing patients the option to dig through results in more detail if desired may be fruitful.

How can patients download clinical reports from the patient portal?

Background: Communicating laboratory test results online has several advantages for patients, such as improving clinical efficiency and accessibility, thereby helping patients to take an active role in managing their health. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the experiences and self-efficacy of patients using an online patient portal that communicates laboratory test results.

Provide clear instructions

Although many healthcare organizations have offered patient portal access for some time, it hasn’t been until the COVID-19 pandemic that the technology has seen broad consumer utility.

Reporting easy-to-understand test results

Data shows that patients like seeing their lab results, regardless of the outcome, via the patient portal or through an email message. According to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Managed Care, 77 percent of patients want to see their lab results online via the patient portal.

Keeping an organized call center

Of course, a patient viewing her COVID-19 lab test results via the patient portal may still pick up the telephone. As noted above, she may not understand her result, or might want to follow-up about next steps even if she has tested negative.

What are the problems with EHR?

With the advent of electronic health records (EHR), communication of results can be faster and more reliable. However, building a quality EHR system takes work, and systems still have to contend with nontechnical problems such as: 1 User behaviors 2 Usage practices 3 Policies and procedures related to communication and follow-up 4 Training issues 5 Organizational practices 6 Workflow-related issues

Is EHR reliable?

With the advent of electronic health records (EHR), communication of results can be faster and more reliable. However, building a quality EHR system takes work, and systems still have to contend with nontechnical problems such as:

Who is Dan Scungio?

Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare in Virginia, and otherwise known as “Dan, the Lab Safety Man,” shares his thoughts on Quick Safety 52.