What Are the Advantages of the Patient Portal?

No matter the specialty, providers all over the United States are encouraged to utilize the patient portal in their daily operations. This tool has changed the way that patients and providers access and manage patient health information. It continues to impact the way healthcare is delivered to patients, making large improvements in the quality of care across the board. The patient portal has broken down barriers toward care and information, helping patients understand their personal health as well as stay active in the improvement of it. For providers, this tool has changed how they approach care-delivery and helped them focus on their patients better than ever before. The patient portal is an incredibly beneficial tool for both patient and provider and here is why.

Patient Portals Increase Patient Engagement

Over history, the level to which patients want to be involved in their personal care has gone both up and down. In 2023, it is known that the more involved a patient is in their personal care the better outcomes they have. Increased patient engagement means that the patient is invested in themselves and more willing to address health issues/concerns. How does the patient portal increase patient engagement?

1)    More Information

First off, the patient portal offers a patient a wealth of information that they previously have not had access to. This tool allows them to see their entire health record, changing the way they address their own health. Before technology made its way into the field of healthcare, patients often kept an out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality. If they didn’t know what was reflected on their health record and were avoiding their provider, then they did not have to worry about it. This lead to patients being unaware of potential red flags and was causing larger problems down the road. Now that patients can view their tests, labs, symptoms, diagnoses, and much more, they are better able to have a complete picture of what is happening to their whole wellness and address it.

2)    Increased Communication

A large reason a patient used to avoid engagement with their personal care was the total inconvenience and annoyance of visiting and communicating with their healthcare provider. Now, all a patient must do to have a conversation with their provider is log into their personalized patient portal and address any questions and concerns via messaging. Here the patient can do more than just send a message, they can complete a telehealth visit or an e-visit with their provider. This makes it simple to start the conversation around health concerns. Even if a concern might not seem like a big deal, asking a provider about it could save a life.

Patient Portal for Providers

1)    Refocuses Efforts on the Patient

In the same way that the patient has simple access to their patient health information, so does the provider. With the patient portal, providers can quickly access patient health information or send it to a referral without the hassle and search that existed previously. With the patient portal, providers can refocus their efforts on patient care.

2)    Meet Meaningful Use Standards

A patient portal is required under the Core Measures for Meaningful Use Stage 2 standards. Not only is the patient portal truly improving the lives of patients by helping them stay more engaged in their personal care, but it is also helping providers stay compliant with national standards. This is a crucial part of any practice.

3)    Streamline Workflow

With a truly integrated patient portal, patients not only have access to health information and communication but much more. This tool helps to streamline workflow at a practice by freeing up the time of the office staff. No longer are they held up with scheduling or prescription calls because the patient portal takes care of the patient in these areas. A patient no longer needs to call the office. Instead, they can log onto their patient portal and schedule any appointments they need to as well as request prescriptions. Here, they can view and pay their medical bill as well, which helps to make sure a practice is receiving more on-time payments. This tool works to remind patients of upcoming appointments and bill payments so that they never forget.

The patient portal is one of the most important tools any provider can have at their practice to make sure both their patients and their physicians are taken care of. If you’re interested in finding out more about how a patient portal can benefit your practice, contact us! We’re happy to answer your questions!