Patient Portals

With Stage II meaningful use on the horizon, having a patient portal is required.  However, buying and setting up a portal is one thing.  Getting patients to use it, it clearly another issue.  The whole idea behind patient portals it to "engage the patient and their families" in the healthcare decision making process.  To provide more education and increase their understanding of their condition and the recommended treatment options.  The real challenge comes from registering and supporting a huge patient population.  Where do they call when they have problems, who assists them with their computer issues? What if there is something incorrect or inaccuracies with their medical records?  How do they securely view, download and transmit their records with ease?

There are many very good opportunities to engage patients in their care, however, there are just as many challenges in supporting this new way of doing business.

Patient Portals are our future, learn to master them now!