Short Takes: Patient Portals in Practice

November 1, 2014

by Corinna Underwood

A patient portal—an online hub that allows patients to log on to the Internet and have full access to their health information through a secure website—is an essential means for a practice to achieve maximum patient engagement. It also offers an easy way for patients to stay in touch with caregivers, make appointments, set appointment reminders, request prescriptions, receive test results, and review and update personal information. One of the main benefits for you as a healthcare provider is that a patient portal increases patient engagement.

Opportunities for the patient

A patient portal can provide a number of benefits for the patient’s healthcare experience, such as:

Empowering patients by giving them easy access to medical information and their healthcare records
Providing direct communication with healthcare providers
Facilitating the opportunity for patients to request information between visits
Allowing patients to request prescriptions and referrals through the online process

Opportunities for the healthcare provider

As a modern-day healthcare practitioner, you need to maintain a balance between quality clinical care and optimum efficiency of your practice. Using technology can enhance your level of care, particularly if you run a small practice and have limited resources.