Patient portal
A patient portal is an online portal where patients can access personal health information, communicate with their providers, and track basic health goals. It is a secure, online website that gives patients convenient 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Patients can access their health records, review lab results, view recent doctor visits, request a prescription refill, and ask questions, among other features. The portal also provides patients with a secure way to send secure messages directly to their healthcare providers in real-time.
Are patient portals required by law?
No, patient portals are not required by law. However, many healthcare organizations are expanding the use of patient portals to help improve patient access to healthcare services and provide a secure and efficient means of communication between patient and provider. The use of patient portals is becoming increasingly popular, and some organizations may be encouraged to use patient portals for quality improvement initiatives and improved patient satisfaction rating.
Patient portal benefits and challenges
Benefits
1. Improved patient-provider communication: Patient portals can provide an effective means of communication with healthcare providers that is more convenient for both the patient and provider.
2. Improved coordination of care: Patient portals can ensure a smoother transition between healthcare providers as they can provide an efficient way to share essential patient information and track health progress.
3. Increased patient access to health records: Patient portals can provide patients with easy access to their health information, which is beneficial for monitoring and managing their own health.
4. Increased convenience: Patients can access their medical information from home at anytime and can conveniently request a prescription refill or lab test from the comfort of their own home.
Challenges
1. Security: Patient portals must be secure, protecting patient information when stored or communicated over the internet.
2. Cost: Setting up and maintaining patient portals can be expensive, as portals require payment for IT infrastructure, staff, and maintenance.
3. Patient engagement: To ensure a successful patient portal, patients must be engaged and able to use it effectively. Patient education is necessary to ensure patient engagement.
4. Incompatible technology: If patient portals are not designed to be
How do I sign in to the patient portal
Signing in to a patient portal is usually pretty straightforward. To get started, you’ll likely need to provide your name, email address, and phone number to create an account. Once your account is set up, you’ll be able to log in with a username/password combination. Check with your healthcare provider for specific sign-up instructions and to get your account set up.
Patient portal vendors
Common patient portal vendors include:
1. Cerner
2. Allscripts
3. athenahealth
4. eClinicalWorks
5. Epic
6. Meditech
7. DrChrono
8. Wellcentive
9. CareCloud
10. PracticeFusion
