Patients nowadays not only want the best care but also look forward to better services offered by their hospital or provider. The Patient Portal EMR Software is a robust platform that allows patients to have 24/7 access to their health data via their smartphones or tablets. It helps patients to engage in every step of their healthcare journey through several capabilities and features offered by the portal.
Functionalities of a Patient Portal Software System
Patient portals not only provide data access to patients but they offer other facilities to patients which helps to improve patient satisfaction and engagement. A good Patient Portal EMR Software solution usually has the following tools,
- Direct HIPAA compliant messaging platform
- Real-time lab results update
- Online bill payment facility
- Online scheduling
- Prescription refill requests
- Educational material
How popular are patient portals?
The patient portal software technology is becoming common in the US due to its many convenience and effectiveness. According to a recent HIMSS survey in 2016, 58% of healthcare providers connect with their patients using the patient portal platform. Patient portals are online engagement tools that facilitate patients to have some access to their health records.
It is important to keep in mind that not all patient portals offer the same features, so providers need to figure out the platform that offers maximum capabilities to drive patient engagement and keep patients satisfied by meeting their needs and demands consistently.
What are the advantages of deploying patient portals?
It’s a given that patient portal a way to keep patients connected outside the four walls of your clinic. Research reveals that the powerful platform enables patients to stay on top of their healthcare process when they can see their health data. The tool is a sure-fire to boost patient engagement levels and helps to enhance patient loyalty. The secure messaging feature of the patient portal helps build strong patient-provider communication. Chronic disease management is also enhanced through secure messaging as providers can keep a check on their patients and make sure they are adhering to the necessary follow-up measures.
Amidst the pandemic, patients can easily view their Covid-19 related test results on the portal and stay in touch with their doctor regarding their health conditions. Likewise, healthcare providers can update their patients regarding safety protocols and help to reduce anxiety levels during these uncertain times. The patient portal is a valuable tool to feel connected with your clinician ensuring to improve patient outcome levels.
What can providers do to encourage their patients to use the patient portal platform?
To increase the patient portal usage and make sure it provides maximum value to your patient’s healthcare providers and practices must educate their patients about the software system. They should let their patient know about the features and how they feel facilitate them from the comfort of their homes. An email can be sent or an interactive video can be sent to patients which can boost up the usage rate. This will ensure that patient portals are being used at their complete potential. Patients do like patient portals but they need to be encouraged to use the portal to engage in their healthcare process.
