One of the major reasons why nearly 80% of the US physicians are looking to switch their current EHR systems is that they are not satisfied with it. Some of the reasons for this dissatisfaction are: EHRs’ lack of ability to attest for Meaningful Use 2, support Patient Portals and meet other regulatory requirements. The reason why the government is really pushing for implementation of Patient Portals is that they serve as a great tool to improve patient satisfaction and quality of care delivered, while engaging patients more than ever before.

So what are the underlying features of Patient Portals and how can patients benefit by using them? Let’s discuss in detail:

1. Registration:When patients enter a practice, they usually have to wait a long time in queues before getting themselves registered to be attended by their clinician. Patient Portals change this as they allow web-based patient registration, thereby reducing the time required to check-in and improving customer experience.
2. Appointments:Patients can easily schedule an appointment with their clinician with the help of Patient Portals. They can simply leave a request to be attended by their physician, and the physician can then confirm the appointment depending on his schedule. This saves a lot of time spent on calls and physical visits to the clinics.
3. Messages:Patients can connect with their physicians whenever they want through the messaging interface of Patient Portals. They can discuss their health issues, seek advice, connect with specialists and do much more.
4. Refills: Patients can conveniently order refills through Patient Portals. They are not required to visit the physician in person and can do so from anywhere through the internet.
5. Clinical:Lab results, radiology reports and procedure information are accessible, anytime and anywhere, to the patients with the help of Patient Portals.

These are some of the features of a Patient Portal which make it a great tool to improve the overall patient experience.