The perks of patient portal: Bridging the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers
Since I have become a nurse 16 years ago, I have witnessed major technological advancements within our healthcare system. During that time, I was still fairly naïve to computers and how their related systems would function in healthcare. Boy was I surprised and ecstatic to see how technology has evolved and continues to make waves within the healthcare arena. Not only are computers useful, but also other handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets as they attempt to bridge communication gaps between the patient and healthcare providers.
With the conception and evolution of Health Information Technology (HIT) came Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Both terms are often used interchangeably despite their differences. EHRs is used in “real-time” and is used to chart, view labs/imaging reports and allow for a comprehensive and secure approach to communication and/or collaboration with prospective healthcare disciplines within designated healthcare systems. EMR systems are digital versions of paper charts and are utilized within a specific practice and allows for the diagnosis and treatment within practices. EMRs provide a glimpse or limited view of the patients’ medical history and cannot be shared with healthcare providers outside of the practice.
As a nursing student, Registered Nurse (RN) working in the hospital setting and now as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), the importance of documentation, communication and providing quality evidence-based practice (EBP) care was drilled into my head when caring for patients’. However, it was not until the past few years while working as a NP in a private practice where I fully understood and appreciated the use of HIT and EMRs/EHRs.
Within my current practice I place emphasis on the importance of patients’ taking a proactive approach with their health and the pros of communication. Every day I make it my duty to ask patients’ if they have computer access with the internet and those who are computer savvy I encourage them to sign up for our patient portal as a means to strengthen the lines of communication. Patient portal systems are secure online websites that provides patients 24-hour access to their personal health information from anywhere as long as they have internet connection. Upon checkout at my practice those that are interested provide a personal email address for a link to be sent to them to sign up for the portal. Patients are also provided with a copy of written instructions on how to set up their account with a secure username and password.
Once patients are acclimated to the portal system, they have the ability whether it be asking questions they may have be too embarrassed to ask during their appointments or provide a quick update on a medication that was recently prescribed. They also can update their medical history to include allergies and immunization history, request medication refills, schedule appointments, view discharge summaries and lab results. One of the best features is the ability for patients to send and receive non-urgent messages to myself and/or their assigned physician.
In conclusion, I am happy to see more patients utilizing the patient portal system within our practice. Patient portals increase the lines of communication between patients and myself and/or assigned physicians, this in turns encourages patients to take on a more proactive approach and encourages accountability for their personal health and well-being. Patients tend to keep abreast of their current and future health-related needs. The patient portal system also leads to improving ones’ quality of care and heightens preventive care. Provider workflow is important as the portal system decreases the amount of unnecessary back and forth phone calls and allows providers to respond within a timely manner. All of this is great and I am pleased with the use of the patient portal system within our practice. I do however advise my patients of two things and to use their best judgment and that is to never send messages that are of an urgent matter and that the patient portal is not a substitution for an office visit.
