Patient Web Portal Analysis

Modern communications capabilities open up a world of possibilities for all types of medical practices to develop deeper connections with their patients and to manage health care remotely. The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives patients the right to obtain copies of their medical records, treatments and protected health information or PHI. These requirements go further if medical providers want to receive reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid -- patients must be able to access their records online, download copies and transmit the information to third-party providers. Most medical practices are finding it necessary to develop patient portals where patients and physicians can interact, share information and perform important functions such as practices billing patients and accepting payments online. HIPAA 's rules require that these patient portals have strong security and privacy protections to prevent unauthorized access of these confidential PHI records.

In today’s market you must have a Web presence to compete. Hospitals are no longer immune to changes brought about by the intenet and web based transactions. Patton-Fuller must look internally to see what services could be offered through a Web Portal to extend as much information to their patients as possible. Some information that could be delivered to patients electronically are newsletters, viewing of peoples public information that are currently in the hospital, such as patients’ room numbers, as well as the ability to purchase

Changes in current health care practices, the aging baby-boomer population, and the higher acuity of patients has created a need for change and adaptability with the health care industry. Kaiser is an organization who has shown the ability to continuously change in order to reduce costs while improving efficient quality patient care. The investment on information technology (IT) advancements such as the implantation of electronic health records (EHRs) and use of a patient portal system is one way the organization has shown readiness to meet the health care needs of patients. KP in collaboration with five other healthcare organizations created a Care Connectivity Consortium, enabling secure electronic retrieval of current

Communication is the key in a health care field and having patient portals has increased information sharing between physician, nurses and patients. Patient portal is software that allows patients to get access to their own electronic medical record in a secure, efficient and easy to use program. Patient portals offer updated list of medications, diagnosis, allergies, lab results, patient history and more. Patients have access to their portals, which allows them to keep themselves up to date on not only their history but new information that doctors and nurses have given them. Also, having access to their portal allows them to keep updated information such as, discharge instructions for better care. This eliminates the time the nurses would spend on phone tag. It is a secure online software that provides patients with privacy and own username and password.

In today’s cyber environment everything is that the tip of society’s fingertip and healthcare is not the exception. Every organization from hospitals to the local family doctor’s office is realizing the cost savings and convenience of having a medical system in place that can store, track, audit, and maintain a patient’s history. Such technology is mutually beneficial to patients alike since searching for providers becomes much easier when login into a medical portal allows the user to find specialist of all sorts without much hassle.

Going hand in hand , the online portals allow for clinicals to have an online relationship with their patients. This allows for them to follow up with a simple message on the portals. They are able to view their own results,set up appointments and message their helath care providers with quesitons.

Electronic Health Record (EHRs) have a remarkable impact on every stakeholders in medicine. Stakeholders in medicine are the providers, payers, employers and patient. EHRs make access to a patients previous care service available for continuity care. The EHR is highly used to set up patients’ schedule or coordination of care. Patients safety and secure access to EHR through the patient portal, by policies set forth by the facility, will ensure the need to know information on a patient and that which can have positive results. Hospitals and health care providers are implementing EHRs rapidly in response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and this is because of how essential; EHRs are in improving patient safety ( Sittig,

Patients and their families can log into the portal anytime to recall the visit and follow up plan (Crane, 2014). Those patients who take multiple medication are easily able to keep track of their medication and request a refill. Patient are engaged as they log in to manage their medications, view labs, or to view a secure message. Studies have shown that patients with portals have more adherence to receiving influenza shots and mammograms as these patients receive important reminders via secure messaging (Goldzweing, 2013). Nowadays, patients want to be part of their medical care and hence improve quality of life. With access to patient data, patient are also willing to learn more about their disease process. Therefor, portal also provides patient with educational materials to understand the disease and treatment plan. Involving patient in their own care will result in better outcomes and adherence to treatment plan. Another result of portal is cost saving. For example, “the secure messaging feature of the patient portal could result in saving of $0.62 per appointment reminder, $1.75 per phone call to patients, and $2.69 for each lab result delivery” (Emont, 2011). While the amount may appear to be small, but it adds up to the overall

Having one central point is imperative to the growth, and improvement in the health care industry. It also has the potential to improve health care expenditures which I know all the citizens of America are in favor for. There a lot of citizens in the U.S. that believe that it is the government’s responsibility to protect their online health information and establish and monitor compliance (Nazi, 2010). With the growing number of health care organizations struggling to stay afloat and people trying to steal other individual’s identity, it is imperative for the government to step in to propose a universal web-based EHR system. It would relieve the finical burden of the health care organizations and promote growth in the health care industry.

Patient portals such as MyGeisinger can be considered both administrative and clinical in nature. The use of patient portals allows for

EHR programs in the medical office has many advantages it is an upsurge in electronic social networking, instant communications, and demand for the immediate availability of information. When patients come to the medical clinic it can be stressful and sometimes frustrating, to deal with lost files, forms not completed, or when the patient is impatient. The new EHR program in medical offices will provide security, accessibility, and will be available when needed. Access to personal medical information across the internet has become a need, not only for healthcare providers, but also for the patients. EHR will bring tremendous benefits to patients care and to healthcare providers. It will bring enhanced accessibility to clinical information,

A patient portal is a free online program that offers patients the tools to successfully manage and view their health care record. The Patient Portal offers a simple and convenient way to see and track your progress in one place.

“Performs variety of duties including collection of the discharge patient health information management from all departments: emergency department, inpatient floors, and outpatient surgery department; preparation of charts to (electronic health information management” (Health Information Careers, n.a).

The next factor to consider is the impact of emerging technologies; particularly around e-health and personalized medicine. Digitization of health care is becoming increasingly effective means of coping with the huge volume of health data and helps in making informed decisions. NS has fostered a significant environment of emerging e-health strategies (EMRs and EHRs) to improve secure access to information and patient care (Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, 2013). This is a step to encourage DNS in order to provide guidance to physicians and other HCP. Statistics on usage of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) state that more than 70% of physicians use an EMR in Nova Scotia (Rowinska, 2015). Access to online medical information means there is no longer a need for duplicate testing which results in timely treatment and better management of the health system. (Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, 2013). Moving from paper-records to e-health technology presents an opportunity for DNS to integrate information across a healthcare continuum allowing quality decision-making and enhancing safety of patients.

The future trends in health care are limitless. From using applications that perform EKG’s to robot-assisted surgery, the rapid expansion of technology applications in health care is astounding. Advancing technology also pushes the boundaries of health care in its ability to integrate health care information. The integration of health care information is critical to the effective, efficient delivery of quality care in a now fragmented health care system. This paper will assess how the internet or any new forms of electronic communication can be used as an external delivery source of communicating patient-specific information, address the impact of distance delivery on health care, how these communication issues impact health care today and