Especially in the early stages of adoption, the practice may want to focus resources on the patients who would benefit the most from the services offered on a patient portal. Those with multiple medications or complex diagnosis who require regular blood work and procedures would be one example.
Adolescent Patients
Another concern for some practices will be how to best work with their adolescent populations. At what age should the patient be allowed to take over their own care, and to what extent can the parent be excluded without consent of the child? These decisions may be driven as much by custom and law as the desires of the practice.
“In the end, a portal improves the quality of service to the patient,” says Dr. Odutola. “Does it make it easier? On that point, I am not so sure.”
Kurt Ullman is a freelance writer based in Indiana.
For More Information…
Further information on the ins and outs of starting and maintaining patient portals can be found at:
- The California Healthcare Foundation and their Patient Portal Resource Center.
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Search on patient portals
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Patient Engagement Resource Library.