Electronic Health Record Patient Portals and the Blockchain Technology

Author(s):  
Jorge Tavares

The electronic health records (EHR) patient portals are an integrated eHealth technology that combines an EHR system and a patient portal, giving patients access to their medical records, exam results, and services, such as appointment scheduling, notification systems, and e-mail access to their physician. EHR patient portals empower patients to carry out self-management activities and facilitate communication with healthcare providers, enabling the patient and healthcare provider to access the medical information quickly. Worldwide governmental initiatives have aimed to promote the use of EHR patient portals. The implementation of EHR patient portals encompasses several challenges, including security, confidentiality concerns, and interoperability between systems. New technological approaches like blockchain could address these issues and enable a successful worldwide implementation of EHR patient portals.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonius Mattheus van Rijt ◽  
Pauline Hulter ◽  
Anne Marie Weggelaar-Jansen ◽  
Kees Ahaus ◽  
Bettine Pluut

BACKGROUND Patients, in a range of health care sectors, can access their medical health record using a patient portal. In mental health care, the use of patient portals among mental health care professionals (MHCPs) remains low. MHCPs worry that patient access to electronic health records will negatively affect the patient’s wellbeing and their own workload. This study explores the appraisal work carried out by MHCPs shortly after the introduction of online patient access and sheds light on the challenges MHCPs face when trying to make a patient portal work for them, the patient, and their relationship. OBJECTIVE This study aims to provide insights into the appraisal work of MHCPs to assess and understand patient access to their electronic health record (EHR) through a patient portal. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study including ten semi-structured interviews (N=11) and a focus group (N=10). Participants were MHCPs from different professional backgrounds and staff employees (e.g., team leaders, communication advisor). We collected data on their opinions and experiences with the recently implemented patient portal and their attempts to modify work practices. RESULTS Our study provides insights into MHCPs’ appraisal work to assess and understand patient access to the EHR through a patient portal. Four topics emerge from our data analysis: 1) appraising the effect on the patient-professional relationship, 2) appraising the challenge of sharing and registering delicate information, 3) appraising patient vulnerability, and 4) redefining consultation routines and registration practices. CONCLUSIONS MHCPs struggle with the effects of online patient access and are searching for the best ways to modify their registration and consultation practices. Our study suggests various solutions to the challenges faced by MHCPs. To optimize the effects of online patient access to EHRs, MHCPs need to be involved in the process of developing, implementing, and embedding patient portals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan A. Canty ◽  
Benjamin N. Fogel ◽  
Erich K. Batra ◽  
Eric W. Schaefer ◽  
Jessica S. Beiler ◽  
...  

Abstract Background With increased use of telehealth, interventions to improve infant sleep environments have not been explored. This study sought to assess the feasibility and efficacy of using electronic health record patient portals to transmit photographs of infant sleep between mothers and healthcare professionals as part of an intervention to promote sleep environments consistent with AAP guidelines. Methods One hundred eighty-four mother-newborn dyads consented to participate in a randomized trial requiring patient portal registration within 1 month of delivery. We first assessed feasibility as measured by a) the proportion of consented mothers enrolling in the portal and b) maternal adherence to prompts to submit photographs of their infant sleeping to the research team through the patient portal. Intervention group mothers were prompted at 1 and 2 months; controls were prompted only at 2 months. Efficacy was determined via research assistant review of submitted photographs. These assistants were trained to detect sudden unexplained infant death risk factors utilizing AAP guidelines. Standardized feedback was returned to mothers through the patient portal. We used Fisher’s Exact test to assess group differences in guideline adherence at 2 months. Results One hundred nine mothers (59%) enrolled in the patient portal and were randomized to intervention (N = 55) and control (N = 54) groups. 21 (38, 95% CI 25–52%) intervention group participants sent photographs at 1 month and received personalized feedback. Across both groups at 2 months, 40 (37, 95% CI 28–46%) sent photographs; 56% of intervention group participants who submitted photographs met all safe sleep criteria compared with 46% of controls (difference 0.10, 95% CI − 0.26 to 0.46, p = .75). Common reasons for guideline non-adherence were sleeping in a room without a caregiver (43%), loose bedding (15%) and objects (8%) on the sleep surface. Conclusions Utilizing the patient portal to individualize safe infant sleep is possible, however, we encountered numerous barriers in this trial to assess its effects on promoting safe infant sleep. Photographs of infants sleeping showed substantial non-adherence to AAP guidelines, suggesting further needs for improvement to promote safe infant sleep practices. Trial registration Name: Improving Infant Sleep Safety With the Electronic Health Record; Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03662048; Date of Registration: September 7, 2018; Data Sharing Statement: None


Author(s):  
Olga Galani ◽  
Ageliki Nikiforou

The electronic health record is a means of organizing patient data making profound use of the advances in the field of information technology. Its purpose is to fulfill the various needs for information not only of patients and healthcare providers but also of other beneficiaries. The implementation of EHR systems in healthcare organizations is very complex and involves many parameters. This article is about the challenges faced by those undertaking such a task and about the potential benefits from a successful implementation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Sulieman ◽  
Bryan Steitz ◽  
S. Trent Rosenbloom

Abstract Background Patient portals provide patients and their caregivers online access to limited health results. Health care employees with electronic health record (EHR) access may be able to view their health information not available in the patient portal by looking in the EHR. Objective In this study, we examine how employees use the patient portal when they also have access to the tethered EHR. Methods We obtained patient portal and EHR usage logs corresponding to all employees who viewed their health data at our institution between January 1, 2013 and November 1, 2017. We formed three cohorts based on the systems that employees used to view their health data: employees who used the patient portal only, employees who viewed health data in the EHR only, and employees who used both systems. We compared system accesses and usage patterns for each employee cohort. Results During the study period, 35,172 employees accessed the EHR as part of patients' treatment and 28,631 employees accessed their health data: 25,193 of them used the patient portal and 13,318 accessed their clinical data in EHR. All employees who accessed their records in the EHR viewed their clinical notes at least once. Among EHR accesses, clinical note accesses comprised more than 42% of all EHR accesses. Provider messaging and appointment scheduling were the most commonly used functions in the patient portal. Employees who had access to their health data in both systems were more likely to engage with providers through portal messages. Conclusion Employees at a large medical center accessed clinical notes in the EHR to obtain information about their health. Employees also viewed other health data not readily available in the patient portal.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamadur Shudayfat ◽  
Çağdaş Akyürek ◽  
Noha Al-Shdayfat ◽  
Hatem Alsaqqa

BACKGROUND Acceptance of Electronic Health Record systems is considered an essential factor for an effective implementation among the Healthcare providers. In an attempt to understand the healthcare providers’ perceptions on the Electronic Health Record systems implementation and evaluate the factors influencing healthcare providers’ acceptance of Electronic Health Records, the current research examines the effects of individual (user) context factors, and organizational context factors, using Technology Acceptance Model. OBJECTIVE The current research examines the effects of individual (user) context factors, and organizational context factors, using Technology Acceptance Model. METHODS A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used, in which 319 healthcare providers from five public hospital participated in the present study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which was based on the Technology Acceptance Model. RESULTS Jordanian healthcare providers demonstrated positive perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of Electronic Health Record systems, and subsequently, they accepted the technology. The results indicated that they had a significant effect on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of Electronic Health Record, which in turn was related to positive attitudes towards Electronic Health Record systems as well as the intention to use them. CONCLUSIONS User attributes, organizational competency, management support and training and education are essential variables in predicting healthcare provider’s acceptance toward Electronic Health records. These findings should be considered by healthcare organizations administration to introduce effective system to other healthcare organizations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. e208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seuli Bose-Brill ◽  
Michelle Feeney ◽  
Laura Prater ◽  
Laura Miles ◽  
Angela Corbett ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Shruti Gaikwad ◽  
Nikita Kirad ◽  
Shubhangi Gayake ◽  
Dr. Pradnya Kulkarni

2020 ◽  
pp. 1467-1484
Author(s):  
Brian J. Galli

This article describes how healthcare and IT are combatting the ethical implications of electronic health records (EHRs) in order to make them adopted by over 90% of small practices. There is a lack of trust in EHRs and uneasiness about what they will accomplish. Furthermore, security concerns have become more prevalent as a result of increased hacker activity. The objective of this article is to analyze these ethical issues in an effort to eliminate them as a hinderance to EHR implementation. As of now, 98% of all hospitals use EHRs. Between 2009 and 2015, the government allocated money and resources for incentive programs to get EHRs into every healthcare providers' office. During this time period, over $800 million dollars facilitated EHR implementation. Using this as a tool EHRs negative perception can be revitalized and combated with the meaningful use program. This article will highlight the ethical implications of EHRs and suggest ways in which to avoid them to make EHRs available in every healthcare provider.


Author(s):  
Aysha Ebrahim Abdulla ◽  
Shurooq Yousif Ahmed ◽  
Maryam Abdulrahman Alnoaimi ◽  
Hayat Ali

Today, many hospitals seek to adopt the latest and most sophisticated technologies in order to raise the service quality and users' satisfaction. The Electronic Health Record (EHR) had a substantial impact on the health sector and has enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare providers. The purpose of this research is to examine the factors that affect users' satisfaction with the current Health Record System in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A research model was built based on three popular models of users' satisfaction toward information systems. Toward achieving the research objective, a quantitative approach was followed to collect data from an online survey. Accordingly, 152 responses were collected from the users of EHR in public hospitals and health centres in Bahrain. The results of the survey were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS 3.0. It was concluded that the most effective factors in the users' satisfaction with EHR were directly service quality and technical support, with system and information quality indirectly through trust.


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