Patient Portal Essay

According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology ([ONC], 2016) technology is transforming our ability to collect accurate, reliable patient data through the use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) and patient portals. The EHR allows the provide to provide care efficiency while a patient portal empowers the patients to participate in care decisions. The ONC (2016) reported Health information technology (HIT) is a powerful tool that helps providers achieve better care, better communication and better outcomes.
The use of patient portals has become a necessity for population health management and implementing triple aim (lower cost, increase access to care and improve quality of care). However, some patients
according to ONC (2016) providers can improve their workflow by:
• Sharing messages and updates with the patient through the portal
• Clarifying issues and correcting misunderstandings
• Recording details, like a referral name or post-operative instructions
• Providing educational materials
• Sharing and explaining lab results
• Approving or refilling prescriptions
• Scheduling appointments
For a patient portal to be successful, both the patient and the provider need to be committed to utilizing this tool. Providers and health care professionals are responsible for reminding and redirecting patients to utilize this tool to communicate with the clinical team. I enrolled in my Primary Care Provider’s (PCP) Patient Portal because I was referred to the portal to view my lab results on the portal or given the option to wait for a week to get a paper copy. I chose to registered for the portal, which has now become the main source of communication between my PCP and I. Reference
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (2016). The Patient Playbook. Retrieved from