Patient portals are a major tool in any medical practice’s toolbox. Or rather, than can be when they are used correctly. Your medical Patient portal should offer major benefits to your organization and encourage patient engagement.
The Basics of Medical Patient Portals
Patient portals are online services that help connect patients and their providers, bridging the gap that traditional methods of communication create. In addition to having access to their Electronic Health Record, these portals help patients schedule appointments, pay their bills, and contact your practice. For your medical center, they can be an integral part of your patient tracking system.
Patient Portal Benefits for Healthcare Organizations
Increased Patient Interaction
Both Millennials and Generation Z are phone phobic, which means that they are less likely to interact with your practice in meaningful ways if you don’t offer them text- and click-based ways to do so.Additionally, some patients just have social anxiety that can become a barrier to treatment. Patient portals allow individuals the opportunity to interact with your practice without interacting directly with others, making those who prefer to avoid the phone more likely to engage.
Simpler Organization
A major patient portal benefit is simplifying patient enrollment and form organization. Through your system, patients can complete and upload their intake forms prior to their appointment, and you can review them electronically. Patient records can also be filled out on tablets or computers using the portal, giving your clients instant access to their information and storing their files in a way that is easy to access and intuitive.
More Time for Patients
Since doctors and nurses can upload, track, and share data electronically, it speeds up the record keeping processes that come with every appointment. This can be used to reduce appointment times or free up more time for focusing on the patient—whichever is needed most in the moment. Not only does this benefit you in the short term, but it can improve your reputation in the long run.
Telemedicine Support
If you offer distance or virtual care, a patient portal is essential. It will allow for the prescription refills, messaging, video conferencing, and tracking that form the bedrock of telemedicine care. You can also upload clear instructions for dosing and treatment, ensuring your patients don’t get confused and accidentally harm themselves.
Ultimately, patient portals are no longer optional for medical practices; they are a foundational element of patient care and medical practice branding. To learn more about how patient portals enhance your business, speak with Sequence Health.
