Question

Discuss two ways the patient portal can improve health care and patient safety.

Answer 1

In the digital age, platforms such as EHRs, telemedicine technologies and even smart phone apps are positively impacting the health care industry, and streamlining and improving the way that physicians care for patients. Such platforms have also proven to be enormously beneficial in the fight to get more patients actively involved and informed about their own health care.

One particularly effective platform that has been shown to improve patient engagement is that of the patient portal. Used by hospitals, clinics and other medical practices, patient portals can serve a variety of functions. According to Health IT.gov, patient portals are online platforms that permit individuals to log in and access personal medical information, request medication refills, receive lab results, email physicians, make payments and schedule appointments. Put another way, patient portals allow for individuals to carry out an array of tasks that previously had to be completed either via telephone or during an in person visit.

Patient portal can improve health care and patient safety in the following ways

• Improves patient engagement and more effecient - Patient portals can enhance the extent to which patients are actively involved in their healthcare, Medical Practice Insider explained. This is because patients are able to access important information more readily, such as test results and just generally stay more informed. And more knowledgeable patients will likely take more responsibility for their own care. Patient portals can be used as a more efficient means of completing a number of daily administrative tasks that typically require several staff members. Allowing patients to make appointments themselves on the portal and request medication refills themselves helps to streamline and expedite otherwise time consuming tasks.
• Improved communication and patient safety - Many patients often feel as though in-person physician visits are too brief and non-conducive to a solid relationship with their healthcare provider. With the help of patient portals, however, patient-physician relationships can be strengthened through more frequent contact, the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association argued. Portals allows patients to email or instant message doctors about small concerns that would otherwise necessitate an often costly in-person visit. Through easier and more frequent contact, patients will likely feel more satisfied with their physician and overall care, leading to better outcomes in the long run. Healthcare organizations can also improve patient safety by improving practice workflow. For example, providers should always confirm order accuracy, and encourage their patients to do so through strong patient education and patient portal use. Patient safety officers can also be in charge of reading, understanding, and informing the practice about patient safety notices. Patients to stay educated about their care by proactively asking providers questions and accessing information through a patient portal. Improving patient education and engagement can empower patients to confirm medication orders and help catch potential errors.