Patient portals are secure websites where patients can see their personal health information stored in electronic health records (EHR). They let patients view test results, check clinical notes, book appointments, message healthcare providers, ask for prescription refills, and pay medical bills. In the United States, almost 90% of healthcare providers in the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program offer patient portals. However, only about one-third of patients actually use these portals regularly.
Medical staff think portals help patients take part in their own care. When patients use portals, they can control their schedules, watch their health progress, and quickly talk to providers. This is especially helpful for people with long-term diseases. It helps lower emergency visits and hospital stays.
Data from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) shows patient portal use has grown a lot in recent years. Between 2014 and 2020, the number of people who had access to portals went up by 17 points to about 60%. Almost 40% of patients used their portal at least once, a rise of 13 points. More than 60% used smartphones to access portals, 83% used computers, and some used both. Using phones makes it easier to use portals more often.
Mobile health apps connected to patient portals have simple designs. They make it easy to check medical charts, appointments, and lab results anywhere. Nearly 90% of Americans own smartphones or tablets, and about half have health apps. People use these apps to track health goals, talk to providers, and make treatment choices. Mobile tools help patients who live far away, have busy lives, or have trouble moving around.
Users feel happier with portals that are easy to use and give quick information. But some find portals hard to use, especially older adults and people with less health knowledge. Designs that are easy to navigate, use simple words, and work well on phones can help more people use portals.
Many healthcare providers find it hard to get patients to use portals regularly. Some reasons include:
Healthcare workers like nurses and front-office staff can help by teaching patients how to use portals, showing features, and helping them sign up. When providers encourage patients, 71% of those patients sign up, compared to 48% who don’t get encouragement.
Mobile apps linked to patient portals make it easier for patients to use their health data. These apps are often simpler to use than websites. Some benefits include:
Mobile apps are very important for people who don’t have easy access to computers but use smartphones. Designing for phones first can help more people get good healthcare.
AI can look at lots of health data in EHRs and give personalized advice. For example, AI can find patients who need screenings or are at risk for health problems. It sends reminders and educational messages through the portal. This helps patients take care of themselves before problems get worse.
AI with natural language processing lets patients use voice commands or chatbots to set appointments, ask for medication refills, or get answers. This helps reduce the workload on office staff and gives patients help anytime.
AI models can find patients who might need early care. They watch for warning signs like strange lab results or missed medicines. Providers can then contact these patients by messaging or telehealth to prevent serious health issues.
Automation in portals sends appointment reminders, wellness check notices, and vaccine alerts using email, texts, or app notifications. This keeps patients on schedule and reduces missed visits. It helps care stay continuous and supports clinic income.
Tasks like checking claims, validating bills, and confirming appointments take time. AI systems in portals can find billing errors before sending claims. This lowers denials and speeds up payments. Automating these jobs helps staff focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.
As patient portals and mobile apps grow, keeping health information safe is very important. These systems must follow HIPAA rules about privacy and security. Features like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and secure connections protect medical data from unauthorized access.
Healthcare cybersecurity is growing fast and is expected to keep expanding. Good security helps build patient trust, which is needed for more people to use portals and communicate digitally about health.
Patient portals and mobile apps are useful tools for managing and sharing health information in the United States. More people are using them to stay involved in their care, talk to providers, and handle long-term health issues. AI and automation make these platforms better by personalizing care, speeding up tasks, and cutting down paperwork.
Medical practice managers, owners, and IT staff should focus on choosing and using patient portal systems that are easy to use, safe, and work well for their patients. Teaching patients and fixing problems that stop them from using portals can raise use and lead to better health results and smoother healthcare services.
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