How Patient Portal Can Improve Both Patient Care and Provider Workflow

Overview

The patient portal offers many great features that will help medical practices increase patient engagement and patient satisfaction. However, there are lingering questions on what it is to you and how it would improve or affect patient care and the provider’s workflow.

What is the Patient Portal?

The Patient Portal refers to a website made for patients to participate in their healthcare management actively. It connects the patients to their healthcare and providers, making the necessary healthcare processes faster and more efficient. The website is secure to let them access their medical data and modify their personal information whenever and wherever they’re internet-connected. It allows them to view their health information, such as:

• Previous Doctors Appointments
• Doctors’ notes
• Medications
• Immunizations
• Bill Summary
• Lab Results
• Allergies

Some patient portals offer additional features, too, such as:

• Online Bill Payment
• Online Forms
• Schedule Appointments
• Check Insurance Benefits and Coverage
• Prescription Refills
• View of Educational Materials

Benefits of Patient Portal

• Fully Integrated with EMR/PM systems
• Lessens Clerical and Administrative Workload
• Boosts Patient Satisfaction
• Reduces Data Entry Errors
• Promotes Smart Productivity
• Increases Revenue
• Ensures Secured Patient Engagement
• Enhances Safety and Compliance

How Patient Portal Help your Practice

• Secures your Patient-Provider Communication Line

  Your patients will be able to send and receive secure messages in regards to their queries and concerns. It is an efficient way of communicating, for it gets rid of long phone conversations. The portal also allows your patients to ask questions regarding their incoming appointments, procedural requirements, and treatments.

• Improves Patient Accessibility

  Patients will be able to view their clinical summaries, doctors’ notes, and informative materials to help them manage their conditions.

• Online Prescription Request

  Patients can request prescription refills through the portal. It will help in patient compliance with medication and expedite admin tasks in handling prescription requests.

• Save Time in Collaborative Care

  Messaging and sharing information through the portal streamlines your workflow and saves your time. Patients can easily share their lab reports and their doctor’s notes to their other healthcare providers.

• Meets all of the Meaningful Use Criteria

  The Meaningful Use Criteria states that EHRs should be able to do the following:

  1. Improve the quality and convenience of patient care
  2. Increase patient participation in their care
  3. Improve the accuracy of diagnoses and health outcomes
  4. Improve care coordination
  5. Increase practice efficiencies and cost savings

• Empowering the patients

  Patient Portals increase patients’ engagement in and ownership of their treatments and health management. Patients with a chronic condition can easily send their queries and concerns through the portal. Your staff can immediately attend to their issues and questions through the portal. It cuts down on the need for an appointment.

• Reduces Data Entry Errors

  You will be able to collect more accurate and complete patient data. Some portals allow their patients to check and edit their health information. Patients can quickly inform you of any missing or wrong data info in a chart.

• Patient Reminders

  Patient portals are highly customizable and let you easily send reminders for updates or appointments to your patients. It helps them keep track properly on their prescription refills, follow-up checkups, and treatments.

• Send Lab Reports Securely

  Patients can immediately receive their test results and lab reports as soon as you click the send button.

• 24/7 access.

  Your patients can send messages to you at any time of the day, regardless of office hours. You can also designate a staff to handle your patient portal during after hours to answer your patients.

• Mobile-Friendly

  Patient portals are accessible as long as you’re internet-connected. That includes access through smartphones or tablets too.

• Eliminates Phone Calls for Appointments

  Patients will be able to book their appointments through the portal and check any upcoming appointments too. It relieves your staff from taking phone calls for appointments, thus giving them more time to do other tasks.

• Immunization Record Access

  Immunization records of patients can be available in the portal for their convenience. It will let them keep track of their immunizations accurately. The immunization records feature is very useful for pediatric patients. Parents can easily keep track of the needed vaccinations of their children.

• Expedites Administrative Processes

  Patients will be able to fill the necessary forms needed for their treatments and before their upcoming appointments. Some portals will also be able to accommodate online registrations of new patients.

• Review Visit Notes

  Visit notes will be available for patients to review at their convenience.

• Healthcare Plan Details

  Practices like allergy clinics can post the allergy management plan of their patients in the portal. Patients from pain management clinics can also view their physical therapy session plans that they can do at home.

• Increase Patient Loyalty

  Your patients will be more loyal to you due to the convenience and efficient service you provide. It gives them another sense of security that their health is in good hands. The patient portal also gives them a sense of responsibility that empowers them to live a healthier lifestyle. It makes them feel cared for 24/7 through your online patient portal.

What’s The Best Patient Portal Software?

Get the best online patient portal for your EMR at 1st Provider’s Choice. We can customize your portal based on your specialty and needs. Our online portal allows patients to access their health records from anywhere, through any Internet-connected device. Patients can update their personal information through the portal and complete the necessary health forms before visiting the doctor. It helps reduce waiting times for patients, and it allows staff to make better use of their time. Call 480-782-1116 today to speak with one of our Patient Portal experts and get started!