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van den Berg LN, Aardoom JJ, Kiveron LE, Botterweg RD, van den Akker – van Marle ME, Chavannes NH, Hoitsma E. The feasibility and usability of a personal health record for patients with multiple sclerosis: a 2-year evaluation study. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1379780. [PMID: 38841119 PMCID: PMC11150701 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1379780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a persistent inflammatory condition impacting the brain and spinal cord, affecting globally approximately 2.8 million individuals. Effective self-management plays a crucial role in the treatment of chronic diseases, including MS, significantly influencing health outcomes. A personal health record (PHR) is a promising tool to support self-management, potentially empowering patients and enhancing their engagement in treatment and health. Despite these promising aspects, challenges in implementation persist and PHRs are still a relatively new concept undergoing rapid development. Objective This study aimed to assess the feasibility and usability of the PHR. Secondary objectives included evaluating implementation determinants, and exploring preliminary effects on quality of care for both patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs), self-management, self-efficacy for patients, job satisfaction, efficiency, and demand for HCPs, and preliminary effects on costs and health-related quality of life. Methods This study had a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data of patients (n = 80) and HCPs (n = 12) were collected via self-reported questionnaires at baseline (T0), after one year (T1), and after two years (T2). One focus group interview was conducted at T2 with patients (n = 7), and another one with HCPs (n = 4), to get a more in-depth understanding of the feasibility and usability of the PHR via the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology framework, and to further explore the secondary objectives in-depth. Results Most patients never logged in during the first year and logged in a couple of times per year during the second year, averaging around 15 min per log-in session. The HCPs mainly logged in a couple of times per year over the two years with an average use of six minutes per session. Patient usability and satisfaction scores were below average and moderate, respectively: with SUS-scores of 59.9 (SD = 14.2, n = 33) at T1 and 59.0 (SD = 16.3, n = 37) at T2, and CSQ-8 scores of 21.4 (SD = 5.0, n = 34) at T1, and 22.1 (SD = 5.0, n = 39) at T2. HCPs had similar usability and satisfaction scores. Multiple facilitators and barriers were identified by both patients and HCPs, such as (in)sufficient knowledge of how to use the PHR, lack of staff capacity and ICT obstacles. No significant differences were found in the preliminary effects. Qualitative data showed, among others, that both patients and HCPs saw the benefit of the PHR in terms of performance expectancy, by gaining more insight into health and health data, but challenges remained regarding effort expectancy, such as log-in issues and experiencing difficulties with information retrieval. Conclusion The feasibility and usability were considered moderate by patients and HCPs; however, potential regarding the performance of the PHR was observed. Implementation challenges, such as the complexity of usage, lowered the adoption of the PHR. The evolving nature of PHRs requires ongoing evaluation and adaptation to optimize their potential benefits. Utilizing a participatory design approach and a dedicated implementation team could help in achieving this optimization, ultimately enhancing their adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liselot N. van den Berg
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jiska J. Aardoom
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Léone E. Kiveron
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Niels H. Chavannes
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Elske Hoitsma
- Department of Neurology, Alrijne Hospital Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
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Ahmed N, Brown J, Parau C, McCullers A, Sanghavi K, Littlejohn R, Wesley DB. Bridging the Digital Health Divide: Characterizing Patient Portal Users and Nonusers in the U.S. Med Care 2023; 61:448-455. [PMID: 37289563 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to (1) examine demographic differences between patient portal users and nonusers; and (2) examine health literacy, patient self-efficacy, and technology usage and attitudes between patient portal users and nonusers. METHODS Data were collected from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers from December 2021 to January 2022. MTurk workers completed an online survey, which asked about their health, access to technology, health literacy, patient self-efficacy, media and technology attitudes, and patient portal use for those with an account. A total of 489 MTurk workers completed the survey. Data were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA) and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS Latent class analysis models revealed some qualitative differences between users and nonusers of patient portals in relation to neighborhood type, education, income, disability status, comorbidity of any type, insurance type, and the presence or absence of primary care providers. These results were partially confirmed by logistic regression models, which showed that participants with insurance, a primary care provider, or a disability or comorbid condition were more likely to have a patient portal account. CONCLUSIONS Our study findings suggest that access to health care, along with ongoing patient health needs, influence the usage of patient portal platforms. Patients with health insurance have the opportunity to access health care services, including establishing a relationship with a primary care provider. This relationship can be critical to a patient ever creating a patient portal account and actively engaging in their care, including communicating with their care team.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason Brown
- MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD
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Wang H, Shen C, Barbaro M, Ho AF, Pathak M, Dunn C, Sambamoorthi U. A Multi-Level Analysis of Individual and Neighborhood Factors Associated with Patient Portal Use among Adult Emergency Department Patients with Multimorbidity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1231. [PMID: 36673986 PMCID: PMC9859180 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Background: Patient portals tethered to electronic health records (EHR) have become vital to patient engagement and better disease management, specifically among adults with multimorbidity. We determined individual and neighborhood factors associated with patient portal use (MyChart) among adult patients with multimorbidity seen in an Emergency Department (ED). Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional study design and used a linked database of EHR from a single ED site to patients’ neighborhood characteristics (i.e., zip code level) from the American Community Survey. The study population included all adults (age > 18 years), with at least one visit to an ED and multimorbidity between 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020 (N = 40,544). Patient and neighborhood characteristics were compared among patients with and without MyChart use. Random-intercept multi-level logistic regressions were used to analyze the associations of patient and neighborhood factors with MyChart use. Results: Only 19% (N = 7757) of adults with multimorbidity used the patient portal. In the fully adjusted multi-level model, at the patient level, having a primary care physician (AOR = 5.55, 95% CI 5.07−6.07, p < 0.001) and health insurance coverage (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI 2.23−2.61, p < 0.001) were associated with MyChart use. At the neighborhood level, 4.73% of the variation in MyChart use was due to differences in neighborhood factors. However, significant heterogeneity existed in patient portal use when neighborhood characteristics were included in the model. Conclusions: Among ED patients with multimorbidity, one in five adults used patient portals. Patient-level factors, such as having primary care physicians and insurance, may promote patient portal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, JPS Health Network, Integrative Emergency Services, 1500 S. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
| | - Chan Shen
- Department of Surgery, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Michael Barbaro
- Department of Emergency Medicine, JPS Health Network, Integrative Emergency Services, 1500 S. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
| | - Amy F. Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, JPS Health Network, Integrative Emergency Services, 1500 S. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
| | - Mona Pathak
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Cita Dunn
- TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Usha Sambamoorthi
- Texas Center for Health Disparities, Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
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4
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Jung SY, Lee K, Hwang H. Recent trends of healthcare information and communication technologies in pediatrics: a systematic review. Clin Exp Pediatr 2022; 65:291-299. [PMID: 34922424 PMCID: PMC9171461 DOI: 10.3345/cep.2020.01333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
As information communication technology (ICT) has advanced, the healthcare industry has embraced it to reduce medical costs, improve health outcomes, and increase patient satisfaction. Healthcare ICT revolutionizes pediatric healthcare. This study aimed to categorize and synthesize findings from the literature regarding the application of ICT in pediatric patients. This systematic review is based on a comprehensive search of Embase, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. Study selection and coding were performed independently by 2 researchers, followed by narrative categorization. To reflect current trends in ICT for pediatrics, we adopted the Hype cycle technology classification developed by the advisory and information technology firm, Gartner, and the classification of digital health interventions by the World Health Organization. This study included a total of 135 studies. The analysis revealed 7 main types of ICT for pediatrics: (1) telehealth (39 papers), (2) precision medicine (2 papers), (3) automated decision support systems (17 papers), (4) electronic health records (7 papers), (5) patient portals (7 papers), (6) artificial intelligence (AI) (39 papers), and (7) mobile and wearable technologies (20 papers). In particular, we consistently found references to ICT for pediatrics as well as changing and improving healthcare for children. Further studies are required to determine how we can improve ICT productivity for pediatrics, particularly through AI. This study's results will help healthcare delivery organizations and technology companies consider the future direction of pediatric healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Young Jung
- Office of eHealth Research and Business, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.,Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Keehyuck Lee
- Office of eHealth Research and Business, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.,Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hee Hwang
- Office of eHealth Research and Business, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.,Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
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Huang M, Fan J, Prigge J, Shah ND, Costello BA, Yao L. Characterizing Patient-Clinician Communication in Secure Medical Messages: Retrospective Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e17273. [PMID: 35014964 PMCID: PMC8790696 DOI: 10.2196/17273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patient-clinician secure messaging is an important function in patient portals and enables patients and clinicians to communicate on a wide spectrum of issues in a timely manner. With its growing adoption and patient engagement, it is time to comprehensively study the secure messages and user behaviors in order to improve patient-centered care. Objective The aim of this paper was to analyze the secure messages sent by patients and clinicians in a large multispecialty health system at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Methods We performed message-based, sender-based, and thread-based analyses of more than 5 million secure messages between 2010 and 2017. We summarized the message volumes, patient and clinician population sizes, message counts per patient or clinician, as well as the trends of message volumes and user counts over the years. In addition, we calculated the time distribution of clinician-sent messages to understand their workloads at different times of a day. We also analyzed the time delay in clinician responses to patient messages to assess their communication efficiency and the back-and-forth rounds to estimate the communication complexity. Results During 2010-2017, the patient portal at Mayo Clinic, Rochester experienced a significant growth in terms of the count of patient users and the total number of secure messages sent by patients and clinicians. Three clinician categories, namely “physician—primary care,” “registered nurse—specialty,” and “physician—specialty,” bore the majority of message volume increase. The patient portal also demonstrated growing trends in message counts per patient and clinician. The “nurse practitioner or physician assistant—primary care” and “physician—primary care” categories had the heaviest per-clinician workload each year. Most messages by the clinicians were sent from 7 AM to 5 PM during a day. Yet, between 5 PM and 7 PM, the physicians sent 7.0% (95,785/1,377,006) of their daily messages, and the nurse practitioner or physician assistant sent 5.4% (22,121/408,526) of their daily messages. The clinicians replied to 72.2% (1,272,069/1,761,739) patient messages within 1 day and 90.6% (1,595,702/1,761,739) within 3 days. In 95.1% (1,499,316/1,576,205) of the message threads, the patients communicated with their clinicians back and forth for no more than 4 rounds. Conclusions Our study found steady increases in patient adoption of the secure messaging system and the average workload per clinician over 8 years. However, most clinicians responded timely to meet the patients’ needs. Our study also revealed differential patient-clinician communication patterns across different practice roles and care settings. These findings suggest opportunities for care teams to optimize messaging tasks and to balance the workload for optimal efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Huang
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Jungwei Fan
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Julie Prigge
- Center for Connected Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Nilay D Shah
- Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.,Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Brian A Costello
- Center for Connected Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Lixia Yao
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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Nuño-Solínis R, Urtaran-Laresgoiti M, Lázaro E, Ponce S, Orueta JF, Errea Rodríguez M. Inequalities in Health Care Experience of Patients with Chronic Conditions: Results from a Population-Based Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1005. [PMID: 34442142 PMCID: PMC8394123 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9081005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients' experience is an acknowledged key factor for the improvement of healthcare delivery quality. This study aims to explore the differences in healthcare experience among patients with chronic conditions according to individual sociodemographic and health-related variables. A population-based and cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample consisted of 3981 respondents of the Basque Health Survey (out of 8036 total respondents to the individual questionnaire), living in the Basque Country, aged 15 or older, self-reporting at least one chronic condition. Patient experience was assessed with the Instrument for Evaluation of the Experience of Chronic Patients questionnaire, which encompasses three major factors: interactions between patients and professionals oriented to improve outcomes (productive interactions); new ways of patient interaction with the health care system (the new relational model); and the ability of individuals to manage their care and improve their wellbeing based on professional-mediated interventions (self-management). We conducted descriptive and regression analyses. We estimated linear regression models with robust variances that allow testing for differences in experience according to sociodemographic characteristics, the number of comorbidities and the condition (for all chronic or for chronic patients' subgroups). Although no unique inequality patterns by these characteristics can be inferred, females reported worse global results than males and older age was related to poorer experience with the new relational model in health care. Individuals with lower education levels tend to report lower experiences. There is not a clear pattern observed for the type of occupation. Multimorbidity and several specific chronic conditions were associated (positive or negatively) with patients' experience. Health care experience was better in patients with greater quality of life. Understanding the relations among the patients' experience and their sociodemographic and health-related characteristics is an essential issue for health care systems to improve quality of assistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maider Urtaran-Laresgoiti
- Research Group in Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Change (OPIK), University of the Basque Country (EHU-UPV), 48940 Leioa, Spain;
| | - Esther Lázaro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, 46002 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Sara Ponce
- International Research Projects Office, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain;
| | - Juan F. Orueta
- Primary Health Care Center of Astrabudua, OSI Uribe, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, 48950 Erandio, Spain;
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Zhang T, Shen N, Booth R, LaChance J, Jackson B, Strudwick G. Supporting the use of patient portals in mental health settings: a scoping review. Inform Health Soc Care 2021; 47:62-79. [PMID: 34032528 DOI: 10.1080/17538157.2021.1929998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
With the increased use of patient portals in acute and chronic care settings as a strategy to support patient care and improve patient-centric care, there is still little known about the impact of patient portals in mental health contexts. The purposes of this review were to: 1) identify the critical success factors for successful patient portal implementation and adoption among end-users that could be utilized in a mental health setting; 2) uncover what we know about existing mental health portals and their effectiveness for end-users; and 3) determine what indicators are being used to evaluate existing patient portals for end-users that may be applied in a mental health context. This scoping review was conducted through a search of six electronic databases including Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for articles published between 2007 and 2021. A total of 31 articles were included in the review. Critical success factors of patient portal implementation included those related to education, usefulness, usability, culture, and resources. Only two patient portals had articles published related to their effectiveness for end-users (one in Canada and the other in the United States). More than 100 measures of process (n = 73) and outcome (n = 59) indicators were extracted from the studies and mapped to the Benefits Evaluation Framework. Patient portals carry great potential to improve patient care, but more attention needs to be given to ensure they are being evaluated through the development and implementation phases with the end-users in mind. Further understanding of process indicators relating to use are essential for long-term patient adoption of portals to obtain their potential benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Zhang
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nelson Shen
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard Booth
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica LaChance
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brianna Jackson
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, Orange, Connecticut, USA
| | - Gillian Strudwick
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Factors Influencing Healthcare Experience of Patients with Self-Declared Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study in the Basque Country. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9050509. [PMID: 33925113 PMCID: PMC8145886 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9050509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Diabetes affects more than 400 million people around the world. Few published studies incorporate questionnaires that comprehensively cover every aspect of a patient’s experience of healthcare. This study analyzes potential differences in the healthcare experience for patients with diabetes based on their sociodemographic, economic, and health-related characteristics from a comprehensive viewpoint in an integrated delivery system. Methods: We used data from the 2018 Basque Health Survey, which includes a questionnaire for the measurement of the experiences of patients with chronic problems. We present descriptive and regression analyses to explore differences by sociodemographic, economic, and health-related characteristics of patients’ experiences with different healthcare services. Results: Having diabetes plus other comorbidities significantly decreases the quality of the experience with all healthcare services and decreases the global healthcare experience score. When comorbidities are present, the elderly seem to report better experiences than younger patients. Some differences in experience can be explained by sociodemographic and economic factors. No differences exist between conditions co-occurring with diabetes. Conclusion: Patients with diabetes who also suffer from other conditions report worse experiences than individuals who suffer from diabetes only. No specific conditions explain the differences in care experience.
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9
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Tapuria A, Porat T, Kalra D, Dsouza G, Xiaohui S, Curcin V. Impact of patient access to their electronic health record: systematic review. Inform Health Soc Care 2021; 46:192-204. [PMID: 33840342 DOI: 10.1080/17538157.2021.1879810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Patient access to their own electronic health records (EHRs) is likely to become an integral part of healthcare systems worldwide. It has the potential to decrease the healthcare provision costs, improve access to healthcare data, self-care, quality of care, and health and patient-centered outcomes. This systematic literature review is aimed at identifying the impact in terms of benefits and issues that have so far been demonstrated by providing patients access to their own EHRs, via providers' secure patient portals from primary healthcare centers and hospitals. Searches were conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINHAL, and Google scholar. Over 2000 papers were screened and were filtered based on duplicates, then by reading the titles and finally based on their abstracts or full text. In total, 74 papers were retained, analyzed, and summarized. Papers were included if providing patient access to their own EHRs was the primary intervention used in the study and its impact or outcome was evaluated. The search technique used to identify relevant literature for this paper involved input from five experts. While findings from 54 of the 74 papers showed positive outcome or benefits of patient access to their EHRs via patient portals, 10 papers have highlighted concerns, 8 papers have highlighted both and 2 have highlighted absence of negative outcomes. The benefits range from re-assurance, reduced anxiety, positive impact on consultations, better doctor-patient relationship, increased awareness and adherence to medication, and improved patient outcomes (e.g., improving blood pressure and glycemic control in a range of study populations). In addition, patient access to their health information was found to improve self-reported levels of engagement or activation related to self-management, enhanced knowledge, and improve recovery scores, and organizational efficiencies in a tertiary level mental health care facility. However, three studies did not find any statistically significant effect of patient portals on health outcomes. The main concerns have been around security, privacy and confidentiality of the health records, and the anxiety it may cause amongst patients. This literature review identified some benefits, concerns, and attitudes demonstrated by providing patients' access to their own EHRs. This access is often part of government strategies when developing patient-centric self-management elements of a sustainable healthcare system. The findings of this review will give healthcare providers a framework to analyze the benefits offered by promoting patient access to EHRs and decide on the best approach for their own specialties and clinical setup. A robust cost-benefit evaluation of such initiatives along with its impact on major stakeholders within the healthcare system would be essential in understanding the overall impact of such initiatives. Implementation of patient access to their EHRs could help governments to appropriately prioritize the development or adoption of national standards, whilst taking care of local variations and fulfilling the healthcare needs of the population, e.g., UK Government is aiming to make full primary care records available online to every patient. Ultimately, increasing transparency and promoting personal responsibility are key elements of a sustainable healthcare system for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Tapuria
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Talya Porat
- Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Dipak Kalra
- University College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Glen Dsouza
- University College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Sun Xiaohui
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Vasa Curcin
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Beal LL, Kolman JM, Jones SL, Khleif A, Menser T. Quantifying Patient Portal Use: Systematic Review of Utilization Metrics. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e23493. [PMID: 33629962 PMCID: PMC7952240 DOI: 10.2196/23493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of patient portals has been associated with positive outcomes in patient engagement and satisfaction. Portal studies have also connected portal use, as well as the nature of users' interactions with portals, and the contents of their generated data to meaningful cost and quality outcomes. Incentive programs in the United States have encouraged uptake of health information technology, including patient portals, by setting standards for meaningful use of such technology. However, despite widespread interest in patient portal use and adoption, studies on patient portals differ in actual metrics used to operationalize and track utilization, leading to unsystematic and incommensurable characterizations of use. No known review has systematically assessed the measurements used to investigate patient portal utilization. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to apply systematic review criteria to identify and compare methods for quantifying and reporting patient portal use. METHODS Original studies with quantifiable metrics of portal use published in English between 2014 and the search date of October 17, 2018, were obtained from PubMed using the Medical Subject Heading term "Patient Portals" and related keyword searches. The first search round included full text review of all results to confirm a priori data charting elements of interest and suggest additional categories inductively; this round was supplemented by the retrieval of works cited in systematic reviews (based on title screening of all citations). An additional search round included broader keywords identified during the full-text review of the first round. Second round results were screened at abstract level for inclusion and confirmed by at least two raters. Included studies were analyzed for metrics related to basic use/adoption, frequency of use, duration metrics, intensity of use, and stratification of users into "super user" or high utilizers. Additional categories related to provider (including care team/administrative) use of the portal were identified inductively. Additional analyses included metrics aligned with meaningful use stage 2 (MU-2) categories employed by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the association between the number of portal metrics examined and the number of citations and the journal impact factor. RESULTS Of 315 distinct search results, 87 met the inclusion criteria. Of the a priori metrics, plus provider use, most studies included either three (26 studies, 30%) or four (23 studies, 26%) metrics. Nine studies (10%) only reported the patient use/adoption metric and only one study (1%) reported all six metrics. Of the US-based studies (n=76), 18 (24%) were explicitly motivated by MU-2 compliance; 40 studies (53%) at least mentioned these incentives, but only 6 studies (8%) presented metrics from which compliance rates could be inferred. Finally, the number of metrics examined was not associated with either the number of citations or the publishing journal's impact factor. CONCLUSIONS Portal utilization measures in the research literature can fall below established standards for "meaningful" or they can substantively exceed those standards in the type and number of utilization properties measured. Understanding how patient portal use has been defined and operationalized may encourage more consistent, well-defined, and perhaps more meaningful standards for utilization, informing future portal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Beal
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jacob M Kolman
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stephen L Jones
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aroub Khleif
- Ambulatory Clinical Systems, Information Technology Division, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Terri Menser
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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Avdagovska M, Menon D, Stafinski T. Capturing the Impact of Patient Portals Based on the Quadruple Aim and Benefits Evaluation Frameworks: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e24568. [PMID: 33289677 PMCID: PMC7755541 DOI: 10.2196/24568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite extensive and continuing research in the area of patient portals, measuring the impact of patient portals remains a convoluted process. Objective This study aims to explore what is known about patient portal evaluations and to provide recommendations for future endeavors. The focus is on mapping the measures used to assess the impact of patient portals on the dimensions of the Quadruple Aim (QA) framework and the Canada Health Infoway’s Benefits Evaluation (BE) framework. Methods A scoping review was conducted using the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Reporting was guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension for scoping reviews. A systematic and comprehensive search was conducted using the Ovid platform, and the following databases were searched: Ovid MEDLINE (R) ALL (including epub ahead of print, in-process, and other nonindexed citations), EMBASE, and PsycINFO. CINAHL on the EBSCO platform and Web of Science were searched for studies published between March 2015 and June 2020. A systematic gray literature search was conducted using the Google search engine. Extracted data were tabulated based on a coding template developed to categorize the literature into themes and areas of interest. Results A total of 96 studies were included for data extraction. The studies were categorized based on the QA dimensions, with strict adherence to the definitions for each dimension. From the patients’ perspective, it was determined that most evaluations focused on benefits and barriers to access, access to test results, medication adherence, condition management, medical notes, and secure messaging. From the population perspective, the evaluations focused on the increase in population outreach, decrease in disparities related to access to care services, and improvement in quality of care. From the health care workforce perspective, the evaluations focused on the impact of patients accessing medical records, impact on workflow, impact of bidirectional secure messaging, and virtual care. From the health system perspective, the evaluations focused on decreases in no-show appointments, impact on office visits and telephone calls, impact on admission and readmission rates and emergency department visits, and impact on health care use. Overall, 77 peer-reviewed studies were mapped on the expanded version of the BE framework. The mapping was performed using subdimensions to create a more precise representation of the areas that are currently explored when studying patient portals. Most of the studies evaluated more than one subdimension. Conclusions The QA and BE frameworks provide guidance in identifying gaps in the current literature by providing a way to show how an impact was assessed. This study highlights the need to appropriately plan how the impact will be assessed and how the findings will be translated into effective adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melita Avdagovska
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Devidas Menon
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Tania Stafinski
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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12
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Gorfinkel I, Lexchin J. Enabling Patient Portals to Access Primary Care Medical Records: Maximizing Collaboration in Care between Patients and Providers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 14:21-27. [PMID: 31322111 PMCID: PMC7008679 DOI: 10.12927/hcpol.2019.25859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Portals to allow patients to access their primary care medical records are necessary to achieve true collaborative care between doctors and patients. In this article, we outline a practical approach to achieving this goal that involves Ministries of Health, electronic medical record vendors, physicians and patients. Patient portals to primary care records could make possible an entirely new world of on-the-spot, customized learning. Patient portals ideally should be designed with the goal of optimizing patients' to better their ability to help themselves. Delaying implementation of these portals exacts a continued financial and personal hardship on patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joel Lexchin
- Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON
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13
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Niazkhani Z, Toni E, Cheshmekaboodi M, Georgiou A, Pirnejad H. Barriers to patient, provider, and caregiver adoption and use of electronic personal health records in chronic care: a systematic review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2020; 20:153. [PMID: 32641128 PMCID: PMC7341472 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-020-01159-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Electronic personal health records (ePHRs) are defined as electronic applications through which individuals can access, manage, and share health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment. Existing evidence shows their benefits in improving outcomes, especially for chronic disease patients. However, their use has not been as widespread as expected partly due to barriers faced in their adoption and use. We aimed to identify the types of barriers to a patient, provider, and caregiver adoption/use of ePHRs and to analyze their extent in chronic disease care. Methods A systematic search in Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) database was performed to find original studies assessing barriers to ePHR adoption/use in chronic care until the end of 2018. Two researchers independently screened and extracted data. We used the PHR adoption model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to analyze the results. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 was used to assess the quality of evidence in the included studies. Results Sixty publications met our inclusion criteria. Issues found hindering ePHR adoption/use in chronic disease care were associated with demographic factors (e.g., patient age and gender) along with key variables related to health status, computer literacy, preferences for direct communication, and patient’s strategy for coping with a chronic condition; as well as factors related to medical practice/environment (e.g., providers’ lack of interest or resistance to adopting ePHRs due to workload, lack of reimbursement, and lack of user training); technological (e.g., concerns over privacy and security, interoperability with electronic health record systems, and lack of customized features for chronic conditions); and chronic disease characteristics (e.g., multiplicities of co-morbid conditions, settings, and providers involved in chronic care). Conclusions ePHRs can be meaningfully used in chronic disease care if they are implemented as a component of comprehensive care models specifically developed for this care. Our results provide insight into hurdles and barriers mitigating ePHR adoption/use in chronic disease care. A deeper understating of the interplay between these barriers will provide opportunities that can lead to an enhanced ePHR adoption/use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Niazkhani
- Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.,Department of Health Information Technology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Toni
- Department of Health Information Technology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mojgan Cheshmekaboodi
- Office for Disease Registry and Health Outcomes, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Andrew Georgiou
- Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Habibollah Pirnejad
- Department of Health Information Technology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran. .,Patient Safety Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran. .,Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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14
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Lyles CR, Nelson EC, Frampton S, Dykes PC, Cemballi AG, Sarkar U. Using Electronic Health Record Portals to Improve Patient Engagement: Research Priorities and Best Practices. Ann Intern Med 2020; 172:S123-S129. [PMID: 32479176 PMCID: PMC7800164 DOI: 10.7326/m19-0876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ninety percent of health care systems now offer patient portals to access electronic health records (EHRs) in the United States, but only 15% to 30% of patients use these platforms. Using PubMed, the authors identified 53 studies published from September 2013 to June 2019 that informed best practices and priorities for future research on patient engagement with EHR data through patient portals, These studies mostly involved outpatient settings and fell into 3 major categories: interventions to increase use of patient portals, usability testing of portal interfaces, and documentation of patient and clinician barriers to portal use. Interventions that used one-on-one patient training were associated with the highest portal use. Patients with limited health or digital literacy faced challenges to portal use. Clinicians reported a lack of workflows to support patient use of portals in routine practice. These studies suggest that achieving higher rates of patient engagement through EHR portals will require paying more attention to the needs of diverse patients and systematically measuring usability as well as scope of content. Future work should incorporate implementation science approaches and directly address the key role of clinicians and staff in promoting portal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R Lyles
- UCSF Department of Medicine, Center for Vulnerable Populations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California (C.R.L., A.G.C., U.S.)
| | - Eugene C Nelson
- Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire (E.C.N.)
| | | | - Patricia C Dykes
- Center for Patient Safety, Research, and Practice, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (P.C.D.)
| | - Anupama G Cemballi
- UCSF Department of Medicine, Center for Vulnerable Populations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California (C.R.L., A.G.C., U.S.)
| | - Urmimala Sarkar
- UCSF Department of Medicine, Center for Vulnerable Populations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California (C.R.L., A.G.C., U.S.)
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15
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Zhong X, Park J, Liang M, Shi F, Budd PR, Sprague JL, Dewar MA. Characteristics of Patients Using Different Patient Portal Functions and the Impact on Primary Care Service Utilization and Appointment Adherence: Retrospective Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e14410. [PMID: 32130124 PMCID: PMC7064955 DOI: 10.2196/14410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patient portals are now widely available and increasingly adopted by patients and providers. Despite the growing research interest in patient portal adoption, there is a lack of follow-up studies describing the following: whether patients use portals actively; how frequently they use distinct portal functions; and, consequently, what the effects of using them are, the understanding of which is paramount to maximizing the potential of patient portals to enhance care delivery. Objective To investigate the characteristics of primary care patients using different patient portal functions and the impact of various portal usage behaviors on patients’ primary care service utilization and appointment adherence. Methods A retrospective, observational study using a large dataset of 46,544 primary care patients from University of Florida Health was conducted. Patient portal users were defined as patients who adopted a portal, and adoption was defined as the status that a portal account was opened and kept activated during the study period. Then, users were further classified into different user subgroups based on their portal usage of messaging, laboratory, appointment, and medication functions. The intervention outcomes were the rates of primary care office visits categorized as arrived, telephone encounters, cancellations, and no-shows per quarter as the measures of primary care service utilization and appointment adherence. Generalized linear models with a panel difference-in-differences study design were then developed to estimate the rate ratios between the users and the matched nonusers of the four measurements with an observational window of up to 10 quarters after portal adoption. Results Interestingly, a high propensity to adopt patient portals does not necessarily imply more frequent use of portals. In particular, the number of active health problems one had was significantly negatively associated with portal adoption (odds ratios [ORs] 0.57-0.86, 95% CIs 0.51-0.94, all P<.001) but was positively associated with portal usage (ORs 1.37-1.76, 95% CIs 1.11-2.22, all P≤.01). The same was true for being enrolled in Medicare for portal adoption (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.41-0.54, P<.001) and message usage (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.03-2.03, P=.04). On the impact of portal usage, the effects were time-dependent and specific to the user subgroup. The most salient change was the improvement in appointment adherence, and patients who used messaging and laboratory functions more often exhibited a larger reduction in no-shows compared to other user subgroups. Conclusions Patients differ in their portal adoption and usage behaviors, and the portal usage effects are heterogeneous and dynamic. However, there exists a lack of match in the patient portal market where patients who benefit the most from patient portals are not active portal adopters. Our findings suggest that health care delivery planners and administrators should remove the barriers of adoption for the portal beneficiaries; in addition, they should incorporate the impact of portal usage into care coordination and workflow design, ultimately aligning patients’ and providers’ needs and functionalities to effectively deliver patient-centric care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhong
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jaeyoung Park
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Muxuan Liang
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Fangyun Shi
- University of Florida Health Physicians, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Pamela R Budd
- University of Florida Health Physicians, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Julie L Sprague
- University of Florida Health Physicians, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Marvin A Dewar
- University of Florida Health Physicians, Gainesville, FL, United States
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16
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Bush RA, Vemulakonda VM, Richardson AC, Deakyne Davies SJ, Chiang GJ. Providing Access: Differences in Pediatric Portal Activation Begin at Patient Check-in. Appl Clin Inform 2019; 10:670-678. [PMID: 31509879 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1695792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The patient portal interface with individual electronic health records (EHR) was introduced as a tool to enhance participatory medicine. Recent studies suggest adults from racial and ethnic minorities as well as non-English speakers face disproportionate barriers to adoption; however, little data are available for pediatric patients. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine patient portal offers and activation patterns among pediatric urology patients at two geographically diverse tertiary pediatric hospitals. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 2011 to 2016 electronic portal audit records was conducted among patients aged 18 and younger with at least one outpatient urology clinic visit at two tertiary academic pediatric hospitals and their affiliated networks. Differences in utilization among parents/caregivers and adolescents were examined using multivariate analysis. RESULTS Of 44,608 individuals seen in a participating urology department during the study period, 21,815 (48.9%) were offered a code for patient portal activation; of these, 8,605 (19.3% of total eligible individuals) activated portal access. Logistic regression demonstrated associations between an offer and site (p < 0.001), being female (p < 0.001), being Asian or white (p < 0.05), being non-Hispanic (p < 0.001), and reporting English as preferred language (p < 0.001). Activating patient portal access was associated with site (p < 0.001), being Asian or white (p < 0.001), and reporting English as preferred language (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study found that demographic variations in portal began with demographic differences in which patients were offered an activation code. Fewer than half of those given an access code activated their account. Preferred language, race/ethnicity, and clinic location were associated with likelihood of portal activation. Although patients are increasingly expected to schedule appointments, manage correspondence, request prescription refills, obtain authorizations and referrals, and communicate with the medical team using the portal, this study suggests that in the pediatric specialty setting many patients and caregivers are not offered the opportunity to access these tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth A Bush
- Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, Beyster Institute for Nursing Research, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, United States.,Department of Urology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Vijaya M Vemulakonda
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States.,Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Andrew C Richardson
- Clinical Research Informatics, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
| | - Sara J Deakyne Davies
- Research Informatics and Analytics, Analytics Resource Center, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - George J Chiang
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States.,Rady Children's Institute of Genomic Medicine, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
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17
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Sigler R, Kubat R, Lopez A, Newman JR. Implementation of a standardised sign-up process to increase MyChart enrolment among HIV-positive patients. BMJ Open Qual 2019; 8:e000602. [PMID: 31523737 PMCID: PMC6711429 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactive patient portals are a valuable tool for engaging patients in their healthcare, with various functionalities including viewing laboratory results, refilling prescriptions and communicating directly with nurses, physicians and other healthcare providers via electronic messaging. The utility of patient portals is limited primarily from lack of patient uptake and enrolment due to a variety of factors including lack of awareness, low health literacy, poor technology mastery, lack of availability of a smartphone or computer and distrust of the security of their personal health information. We aimed to increase enrolment in the Epic (O2) MyChart patient portal among patients receiving HIV care through our Infectious Diseases clinic via a standardised sign-up protocol during their clinic visits. This intervention resulted in a modest increase in enrolled patients. However, the factors preventing a more dramatic increase in patient uptake remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Sigler
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General and Geriatric Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Ryan Kubat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Angie Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Jessica R Newman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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18
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Foster B, Krasowski MD. The Use of an Electronic Health Record Patient Portal to Access Diagnostic Test Results by Emergency Patients at an Academic Medical Center: Retrospective Study. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e13791. [PMID: 31254335 PMCID: PMC6625217 DOI: 10.2196/13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electronic health record (EHR) patient portals provide a means by which patients can access their health information, including diagnostic test results. Little is known about portal usage by emergency department (ED) patients. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to assess patient portal utilization by ED patients at an academic medical center using account activation rates along with the rates of access of diagnostic test results (laboratory results and radiology reports), analyzing the impact of age, gender, and self-reported patient race. METHODS This institutional review board-approved retrospective study was performed at a 60,000-visits-per-year university-based ED. We utilized EHR data reporting tools to examine EHR portal activation and utilization for all patients who had at least one ED encounter with one or more diagnostic tests performed between October 1, 2016, and October 1, 2017. The total dataset for laboratory testing included 208,635 laboratory tests on 25,361 unique patients, of which 9482 (37.39%) had active portal accounts. The total dataset for radiologic imaging included 23,504 radiology studies on 14,455 unique patients, of which 5439 (37.63%) had an active portal account. RESULTS Overall, 8.90% (18,573/208,635) of laboratory tests and 8.97% (2019/22,504) of radiology reports ordered in the ED were viewed in the patient portal. The highest rates of viewing of laboratory and radiology results were seen for those who were female, were aged 0 to 11 years (parent or guardian viewing by proxy) and 18 to 60 years, and self-reported their race as Caucasian or Asian. The lowest rates were for those who were teenagers, aged older than 81 years, African American/black, and Hispanic/Latino. Infectious disease, urinalysis, and pregnancy testing constituted the highest number of laboratory tests viewed. Magnetic resonance imaging reports were viewed at higher rates than computed tomography or x-ray studies (P<.001). Approximately half of all the diagnostic test results accessed by patients were reviewed within 72 hours of availability in the patient portal (laboratory results: 9904/18,573, 53.32% and radiology reports: 971/2019, 48.1%). On the other extreme, 19.9% (3701/18,573) of laboratory results and 31.6% (639/2019) of radiology reports were viewed more than 2 weeks after availability in the portal. CONCLUSIONS The data highlight the relatively low use of a patient portal by ED patients and existing disparities between patient groups. There can be wide lag time (months) between result/report availability and access by patients. Opportunities for improvement exist for both activation and more robust utilization of patient portals by ED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brody Foster
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Matthew David Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States
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19
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McAlearney AS, Sieck CJ, Gaughan A, Fareed N, Volney J, Huerta TR. Patients' Perceptions of Portal Use Across Care Settings: Qualitative Study. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e13126. [PMID: 31172960 PMCID: PMC6592494 DOI: 10.2196/13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patient portals are a promising instrument to improve patient-centered care, as they provide patients information and tools that can help them better manage their health. The implementation of portals in both the inpatient and outpatient setting gives health care providers an opportunity to support patients both during hospitalization and after discharge. Thus, there is a need to better understand how inpatient and outpatient portals are used across care contexts. Objective This study aimed to examine patients’ perceptions of using inpatient and outpatient portals across the care settings, including how they used the portals and the benefits and concerns associated with portal use. Methods This study was conducted in a large Midwestern academic medical center consisting of seven hospitals. We interviewed 120 patients who had used an inpatient portal during their hospitalization, at 15 days and 6 months postdischarge, to determine their perspectives of portal use in both hospital and outpatient settings. Interview transcripts were analyzed inductively and deductively by using team coding processes consistent with a grounded theory approach. Results Interviews focused on three main areas of portal use: experience with the portal features, perceived benefits, and concerns. Responses at 15 days (n=60) and 6 months (n=60) postdischarge were consistent with respect to perceptions about portal use. Patients identified viewing their health information, managing their schedule, and communicating with providers as notable activities. Convenience, access to information, and better engagement in care were indicated as benefits. Concerns were related to technology issues and privacy/security risks. Conclusions Implementation of inpatient portals as a complement to outpatient portals is increasing and can enable patients to better manage aspects of their care. Although care processes vary substantively across settings, the benefits of convenience, improved access to information, and better engagement in care provide opportunities for portal use across care settings to support patient-centered care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Scheck McAlearney
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,CATALYST (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Cynthia J Sieck
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,CATALYST (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Alice Gaughan
- CATALYST (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Naleef Fareed
- CATALYST (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jaclyn Volney
- CATALYST (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Timothy R Huerta
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,CATALYST (Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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20
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Hackett C, Brennan K, Smith Fowler H, Leaver C. Valuing Citizen Access to Digital Health Services: Applied Value-Based Outcomes in the Canadian Context and Tools for Modernizing Health Systems. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e12277. [PMID: 31172965 PMCID: PMC6592482 DOI: 10.2196/12277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In publicly funded health systems, digital health technologies are strategies that aim to improve the quality and safety of health care service delivery and enhance patient experiences and outcomes. In Canada, governments and health organizations have invested in digital health technologies such as personal health records (PHRs) and other electronic service functionalities and innovation across provincial and territorial health systems. Objective Patients’ access to their own information via secure, Web-based PHRs and integrated virtual care services are promising mechanisms for supporting patient engagement in health care. We draw on current evidence to develop an economic model that estimates the demonstrated and potential value of these digital health initiatives. Methods We first synthesized results from a variety of Canadian and international studies on the outcomes for patients and service providers associated with PHRs across a continuum of services, ranging from viewing information (eg, laboratory results) on the Web to electronic prescription renewal to email or video conferencing with care teams and providers. We then developed a quantitative model of estimated value, grounded in these demonstrated benefits and citizen use (2016-2017). In addition to estimating the costs saved from patient and system perspectives, we used a novel application of a compensating differential approach to assess the value (independent of costs) to society of improved health and well-being resulting from PHR use. Results Patients’ access to a range of digital PHR functions generated value for Canadians and health systems by increasing health system productivity, and improving access to and quality of health care provided. As opportunities increased to interact and engage with health care providers via PHR functions, the marginal value generated by utilization of PHR functionalities also increased. Web-based prescription renewal generated the largest share of the total current value from the patient perspective. From the health systems perspective, Canadians’ ability to view their information on the Web was the largest value share. If PHRs were to be implemented with more integrated virtual care services, the value generated from populations with chronic illnesses such as severe and persistent mental illness and diabetes could amount to between Can $800 million and Can $1 billion per year across Canadian health systems. Conclusions PHRs with higher interactivity could yield substantial potential value from wider implementation in Canada and increased adoption rates in certain target groups—namely, high-frequency health system users and their caregivers. Further research is needed to tie PHR use to health outcomes across PHR functions, care settings, and patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelsey Brennan
- Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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21
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Din HN, McDaniels-Davidson C, Nodora J, Madanat H. Profiles of a Health Information-Seeking Population and the Current Digital Divide: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2015-2016 California Health Interview Survey. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e11931. [PMID: 31094350 PMCID: PMC6537507 DOI: 10.2196/11931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Internet use for health information is important, given the rise of electronic health (eHealth) that integrates technology into health care. Despite the perceived widespread use of the internet, a persistent “digital divide” exists in which many individuals have ready access to the internet and others do not. To date, most published reports have compared characteristics of internet users seeking health information vs nonusers. However, there is little understanding of the differences between internet users seeking health information online and users who do not seek such information online. Understanding these differences could enable targeted outreach for health interventions and promotion of eHealth technologies. Objective This study aims to assess population-level characteristics associated with different types of internet use, particularly for seeking online health information. Methods The 2015-2016 California Health Interview Survey datasets were used for this study. Internet use was classified as never used the internet (Never use), ever used the internet but not to search for health information in the last 12 months (Use not for health), and ever used the internet and have used it to search for health information in the last 12 months (Use for health). Weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with types of internet use. Findings are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. Results Among 42,087 participants (weighted sample of 29,236,426), 19% reported Never Use of the internet, 27.9% reported Use not for health, and 53.1% reported Use for health. Compared to Never Use individuals, Use for health individuals were more likely to be younger (OR: 0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.2 for ≥60 years vs <60 years), female (OR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-1.9 compared to males), and non-Hispanic white (OR: 0.54, 95% CI 0.4-0.7 for Latinos and OR: 0.2, 95% CI 0.2-0.4 for African Americans) and have a higher socioeconomic status (>400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines; OR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.4-2.4). Overall, characteristics for the Use not for health and Use for health groups were similar, except for those with lower levels of education and respondents not having visited a physician in the last year. For these two characteristics, the Use not for health group was more similar to the Never Use group. Conclusions Our findings indicate that a digital divide characterized by sociodemographic and health information exists across three types of users. Our results are in line with those of previous studies on the divide, specifically with regard to disparities in use and access related to age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Disparities in online health-seeking behavior may reflect existing disparities in health care access extending into a new era of health technology. These findings support the need for interventions to target internet access and health literacy among Never Use and Use not for health groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hena Naz Din
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Corinne McDaniels-Davidson
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.,Institute for Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jesse Nodora
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Hala Madanat
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.,Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
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Rhudy C, Broxterman J, Stewart S, Weaver V, Gibson C, Shankweiler C, Comfort B, Lowry B. Improving patient portal enrolment in an academic resident continuity clinic: quality improvement made simple. BMJ Open Qual 2019; 8:e000430. [PMID: 31206051 PMCID: PMC6542548 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Electronic health record patient portal usage has been associated with improvement in chronic disease parameters, patient functional status and patient satisfaction. Our institution’s patient portal is a secure, online health management tool that connects patients to portions of their electronic health record. Our quality improvement project aimed to increase patient portal enrolment significantly in our Internal Medicine resident patient panels. This study was conducted in a large, multisite health system in Kansas City, Kansas that serves a diverse patient population. Our clinic includes 65 resident patient panels. We followed a subset of 16 resident patient panels in this quality improvement project. A baseline audit showed that 35% of the 1628 patients in these panels were enrolled in the patient portal system. A standardised, nurse-initiated portal sign-up process following patient rooming was implemented. Initial results indicated a 9.6% increase in patient portal sign-up at the end of the first 4-week cycle. We then implemented educational sessions for our clinic nurses as well as attending physicians, and achieved a 15.1% increase from baseline to the end of the second 4-week cycle, resulting in 86 patient portal activations (p<0.01). Resident physicians worked with clinic nurse partners in two formats for this project. Nurses assigned to patient rooming for residents during the clinic sessions being studied (rooming nurses) initiated the portal sign-up process. Nurses assigned to partner with the resident for longitudinal patient care management, anchor nurses, worked with residents on items such as phone messages or portal messages. Semi-structured interviews of the four anchor nurses aligned with the 16 residents were conducted at the end of the study and revealed that nursing staff perceived increased patient portal activity to be associated with a decrease in nursing workload and an increase in patient engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Rhudy
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Jane Broxterman
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Sara Stewart
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Victoria Weaver
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Cheryl Gibson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Caylin Shankweiler
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Branden Comfort
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Becky Lowry
- Department of General Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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Madrigal L, Escoffery C. Electronic Health Behaviors Among US Adults With Chronic Disease: Cross-Sectional Survey. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e11240. [PMID: 30835242 PMCID: PMC6423466 DOI: 10.2196/11240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With increased access to technology and the internet, there are many opportunities for utilizing electronic health (eHealth), internet, or technology-delivered health services and information for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to explore (1) the differences in technology use, (2) Web-based health information seeking and use behaviors, (3) attitudes toward seeking health information on the Web, and (4) the level of eHealth literacy between adults aged 18 and 64 years with and without chronic disease. METHODS A cross-sectional internet survey was conducted in March 2017 with 401 US adults. Participant responses were examined to understand associations between chronic disease status and eHealth behaviors such as internet health-seeking behaviors and Web-based behaviors related to health, tracking health indicators with a mobile app, patient portal use, and preferences for health information. RESULTS About 1 in 3 (252/401, 37.2%) participants reported at least 1 chronic disease diagnosis. Seventy-five percent (301/401) of all participants reported having ever searched for health information on the Web. Participants with a chronic disease reported significantly higher instances of visiting and talking to a health care provider based on health information found on the Web (40.0% [48/120] vs 25.8% [46/178], χ22=6.7; P=.01; 43.3% [52/120] vs 27.9% [50/179]; χ22=7.6; P=.006). The uses of health information found on the Web also significantly differed between participants with and without chronic diseases in affecting a decision about how to treat an illness or condition (49.2% [59/120] vs 35.0% [63/180], χ23=6.7; P=.04), changing the way they cope with a chronic condition or manage pain (40.8% [49/120] vs 19.4% [35/180], χ22=16.3; P<.001), and leading them to ask a doctor new questions or get a second opinion (37.5% [45/120] vs 19.6% [35/179], χ22=11.8; P<.001). Chronic disease participants were significantly more likely to be tracking health indicators (43.9% [65/148] vs 28.3%, [71/251] χ22=10.4; P=.006). In addition, participants with chronic disease diagnosis reported significantly higher rates of patient portal access (55.0% [82/149] vs 42.1% [106/252], χ22=6.3; P=.01) and use (40.9% [61/149] vs 21.0% [53/252], χ22=18.2; P<.001). Finally, both groups reported similar perceived skills in using the internet for health information on the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The majority of participants responded positively when asked about the usefulness of health information and importance of accessing health resources on the Web. CONCLUSIONS The high rates of reported information seeking and use of internet-based health technology among participants with chronic disease may reflect the uptake in eHealth to help manage chronic disease conditions. Health care providers and educators should continue to seek ways to interact and support patients in their management of chronic disease through eHealth platforms, including capitalizing on Web-based resources, patient portals, and mobile phone apps for disease education and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian Madrigal
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Cam Escoffery
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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A Randomized Trial to Train Vulnerable Primary Care Patients to Use a Patient Portal. J Am Board Fam Med 2019; 32:248-258. [PMID: 30850461 PMCID: PMC6647853 DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2019.02.180263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient portals are becoming ubiquitous. Previous research has documented substantial barriers, especially among vulnerable patient subgroups such as those with lower socioeconomic status or limited health literacy (LHL). We tested the effectiveness of delivering online, video-based portal training to patients in a safety net setting. METHODS We created an online video curriculum about accessing the San Francisco Health Network portal, and then randomized 93 English-speaking patients with 1+ chronic diseases to receive 1) an in-person tutorial with a research assistant, or 2) a link to view the videos on their own. We also examined a third, nonrandomized usual care comparison group. The primary outcome was portal log-in (yes/no) 3 to 6 months post-training, assessed via the electronic health record. Secondary outcomes were self-reported attitudes and skills collected via baseline and follow-up surveys. RESULTS Mean age was 54 years, 51% had LHL, 60% were nonwhite, 52% were female, 45% reported fair/poor health, and 76% reported daily Internet use. At followup, 21% logged into the portal, with no differences by arm (P = .41), but this was higher than the overall clinic rate of 9% (P < .01) during the same time period. We found significant prepost improvements in self-rated portal skills (P = .03) and eHealth literacy (P < .01). Those with LHL were less likely to log in post-training (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Both modalities of online training were comparable, and neither mode enabled a majority of vulnerable patients to use portals, especially those with LHL. This suggests that portal training will need to be more intensive or portals need improved usability to meaningfully increase use among diverse patients.
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25
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Zhong X, Liang M, Sanchez R, Yu M, Budd PR, Sprague JL, Dewar MA. On the effect of electronic patient portal on primary care utilization and appointment adherence. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2018; 18:84. [PMID: 30326876 PMCID: PMC6192126 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-018-0669-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of patient portal adoption on patients' primary care utilization and appointment adherence. METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study using a panel difference-in-differences (DID) framework to investigate the use of primary care services by patients, adjusting for their disease burden and allowing for time-dependent portal effect. A large dataset with 46,544 patients of University of Florida (UF) Health during the study period July 2013 - June 2016 was used. The main outcome measures are disease burden adjusted rates of office visits arrived, no-show, and cancellation to primary care physicians (PCPs) per quarter between patient portal adopters (denoted as users) and non-users. RESULTS At the time of adoption, the quarterly PCP office visit rate ratio (RR) of patient portal users to non-users was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.27-1.39; p < 0.001). The RRs were between 0.94 to 0.99 up to four quarters after portal adoption (p = 0.749, 0.100, 0.131, and 0.091, respectively), and were significantly less than one at the seventh (RR =0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.91; p < 0.001) and the eighth (RR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90; p < 0.001) quarters post adoption. The quarterly no-show rates of the users were significantly smaller (RRs were between 0.60 and 0.83) except for the seventh, eighth and tenth quarters post adoption. In these three quarters, the no-show rates were not significantly changed (p = 0.645, 0.295, and 0.436, respectively). Quarterly cancellation rates were not significantly affected by portal adoption (p > 0.05 for all cases). CONCLUSIONS Patient portal users' disease burden adjusted PCP office visit rate was significantly reduced in one and a half year and thereafter post portal adoption. PCP appointment no-show rate was also significantly reduced and cancellation rate was not affected, implying improved care engagement of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhong
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida, 482 Weil Hall, PO BOX 116595, Gainesville, FL 32611-6595 USA
| | - Muxuan Liang
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Reynerio Sanchez
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida, 482 Weil Hall, PO BOX 116595, Gainesville, FL 32611-6595 USA
| | - Menggang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI USA
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26
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Nazi KM, Turvey CL, Klein DM, Hogan TP. A Decade of Veteran Voices: Examining Patient Portal Enhancements Through the Lens of User-Centered Design. J Med Internet Res 2018; 20:e10413. [PMID: 29991468 PMCID: PMC6058093 DOI: 10.2196/10413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Health care systems have entered a new era focused on patient engagement. Patient portals linked to electronic health records are recognized as a promising multifaceted tool to help achieve patient engagement goals. Achieving significant growth in adoption and use requires agile evaluation methods to complement periodic formal research efforts. Objective This paper describes one of the implementation strategies that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has used to foster the adoption and sustained use of its patient portal, My HealtheVet, over the last decade: an ongoing focus on user-centered design (UCD). This strategy entails understanding the users and their tasks and goals and optimizing portal design and functionality accordingly. Using a case study approach, we present a comparison of early user demographics and preferences with more recent data and several examples to illustrate how a UCD can serve as an effective implementation strategy for a patient portal within a large integrated health care system. Methods VA has employed a customer experience analytics (CXA) survey on its patient portal since 2007 to enable ongoing direct user feedback. In a continuous cycle, a random sample of site visitors is invited to participate in the Web-based survey. CXA model questions are used to track and trend satisfaction, while custom questions collect data about users’ characteristics, needs, and preferences. In this case study, we performed analyses of descriptive statistics comparing user characteristics and preferences from FY2008 (wherein “FY” means “fiscal year”) to FY2017 and user trends regarding satisfaction with and utilization of specific portal functions over the last decade, as well as qualitative content analysis of user’s open-ended survey comments. Results User feedback has guided the development of enhancements to core components of the My HealtheVet portal including available features, content, interface design, prospective functional design, and related policies. Ten-year data regarding user characteristics and portal utilization demonstrate trends toward greater patient engagement and satisfaction. Administration of a continuous voluntary Web-based survey is an efficient and effective way to capture veterans’ voices about who they are, how they use the patient portal, needed system improvements, and desired additional services. Conclusions Leveraging “voice-of-the-customer” techniques as part of patient portal implementation can ensure that such systems meet users’ needs in ways that are agile and most effective. Through this strategy, VA has fostered significant adoption and use of My HealtheVet to engage patients in managing their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Nazi
- Veterans and Consumers Health Informatics Office, Office of Connected Care, Veterans Health Administration, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Coxsackie, NY, United States
| | - Carolyn L Turvey
- Iowa City VA Health Care System, Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation Center, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Dawn M Klein
- Iowa City VA Health Care System, Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation Center, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Timothy P Hogan
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, United States.,Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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Oest SER, Hightower M, Krasowski MD. Activation and Utilization of an Electronic Health Record Patient Portal at an Academic Medical Center-Impact of Patient Demographics and Geographic Location. Acad Pathol 2018; 5:2374289518797573. [PMID: 30302394 PMCID: PMC6172938 DOI: 10.1177/2374289518797573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of the online electronic health record patient portal has provided an efficient and practical means for patients to become more involved in their health care. In this report, we analyze how demographic variables such as age, gender, race, and geographic location affect patient portal activation and usage at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the sole academic medical center in the state of Iowa, a predominantly rural state. Our primary end points were activation of the patient portal (MyChart, Epic, Inc) and access of outpatient laboratory and radiology results, among the most commonly accessed and popular features of the patient portal. We thus analyzed data from 536 378 patients to determine rates of patient portal activation and data from 219 671 patient encounters to determine the frequency at which patients access their online diagnostic test results. Higher rates of patient portal activation and usage were associated with female gender, Caucasians/non-underrepresented minorities, geographic location in closer proximity to the medical center (Iowa City and neighboring cities/suburbs), and nonelderly adults. For underrepresented minority and rural patients, opportunities for improvement exist for both activation and more robust use of online patient portal accounts. Overall, these data highlight existing disparities with online patient portal usage and provide a base on which further studies and interventions can help to improve utilization of these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. R. Oest
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, IA, USA
| | - Maia Hightower
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Health Care Information Systems, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Matthew D. Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
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