Patient Portals Improve Healthcare Outcomes. So, Why Don ’t Patients Use Them?

The following is a guest article by Oakkar Oakkar, Co-Founder and CEO at Keona Health Imagine a tool that puts your health information right at your fingertips. That’s what patient portals promise – a simple, digital way to access medical records, book appointments, and chat with doctors. They’re designed to make life easier for patients, and studies show they can even help reduce hospital visits, like in 2020 when heart failure patients using these portals saw fewer hospital readmissions. But there’s a catch. Despite their benefits, many patients aren’t using these portals. It’s not just a matter of preference; it’s a complex issue. In 2022, a study highlighted a stark difference: only 60% of Black and 57% of Hispanic patients used these portals, compared to 70% of white patients. This gap points to a deeper issue of accessibility and perhaps, trust in the system. Another study in 2018 suggested something more personal. Some patients avoid portals because they fear losing the human touch in their healthcare. They value face-to-face conversations with their doctors and worry that going digital might take that away. Then there’s the worry about privacy. In an age where data breaches are common, some patients are hesitant to put their health information online. They’re concerned about who might see their data and how it could be used. So, while patient portals have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, they’re facing ...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Ambulatory Communication and Patient Experience EMR-EHR Health IT Company Healthcare IT Hospital - Health System Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring Digital Literacy Health Data Privacy Improving Patient Outcomes Keona Health Oakkar O Source Type: blogs