A patient spent 9 months seeking a diagnosis for recurrent pneumonia which ultimately led to the discovery of a carcinoid tumor in his lung. However, due to the delayed diagnosis caused by the patient's inability to access and share health records across providers, the tumor proliferated and the patient had to have his entire right lung removed. The HITECH Act mandates physicians use electronic medical records (EMRs) with patient portals to improve health outcomes and reduce medical errors and costs. Studies show EMRs can decrease errors by 11-14% and improve efficiency by reducing transcription costs by 75% and admitting time in the ER by 80%. However, only 14% of patients with portal access actually use them due to lack of functionality and

1. PATIENT
PORTALS

2. This patient spent 9 months
seeking a diagnosis f or
re c u r re n t p n e u m o n i a .
Eventually a carcinoid tumor
was discovered in his lung.
As a result of the delayed
diagnosis, the tumor
proliferated and surgeons
were forced to remove the
patient’s entire right lung.
The patient’s inability to access and share health records caused
redundant and inconclusive tests costing valuable time and
ultimately, his lung.

3. HITECH
ACT
As part of the Affordable
Care Act, the HITECH Act
mandates physicians
integrate an Electronic
Medical Record (EMR)
systems in their practice.
To be compliant, EMR’s
must include a Patient
Portal. The government
has designated $26B in
incentives to help offset
the financial burden of
EMR’s. Starting in 2014,
incentives will transition
to penalties if a
“Meaningfully Usable “
EMR isn’t implemented.

4. EMR’S
IMPROVE
SAFETY
Studies have shown EMR’s can:
Decrease medical errors
11%1
Reduce medication errors
14%2
1. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue
%20Brief/2012/Jul/1608_SilowCarroll_using_EHRs_improve_quality.pdf
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116263/

5. EMR’S
IMPROVE
OUTCOMES
…gets yo
u
better, fas
ter
88% of providers report
their EMR produces clinical
benefits for the practice1
75% of providers report
their EHR allows them to
deliver better patient care2
1. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/
Publications/Issue%20Brief/2012/Jul/
1608_SilowCarroll_using_EHRs_improve_quality.pdf
2. http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/
improved-diagnostics-patient-outcomes

6. EMR’S
IMPROVE
EFFICIENCY
80% decrease in time
admitting ER patients. 1
94% of providers report
their EMR makes records readily
available at point of care. 2
1 http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue
%20Brief/2012/Jul/1608_SilowCarroll_using_EHRs_improve_quality.pdf
2 http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/improved-diagnosticspatient-outcomes
3 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116263/
75% reduction in
transcription costs. 3

7. “INTEROPRA…
WHAT?”
More than 400 EMR’s are commercially available in the US.
Currently, EMR’s lack ability to communicate…interoperability.
On average, Americans have 7 different physicians and the lack
of interoperability means doctors outside of an integrated Health
System (Kaiser Permanente, Vanderbilt, etc) are unable to easily
share patient information. So, Patient Portals were mandated…

8. What’s A
A secure website
provided by your
physician containing
various health records,
patient information
and communication
tools. Functionality
varies widely by
vendor.

9. 14%
Of patients that have portal
access actually log-on and use
them…because:
1) Portals lack functionality
2) Patients aren’t aware
Source: PwC Health Research Institute Consumer Survey, 2010

10. FULL DISCLOSURE: I’m a Vanderbilt patient and have only used
the My Health Patient Portal. It has better functionality than most
I’ve researched…but there’s room for improvement.

11. FORMS
Patients can complete forms prior to
arriving at an appointment and view
standard forms they’ve already
completed such as HIPAA Privacy Forms

12. APPOINT-
MENTS
Some providers allow patients to
schedule routine visits through the
portal. No more waiting on hold or
speaking with the answering service!

13. MESSAGING
Some providers enable patients to send
secure emails via the portal. Messages
are triaged by nurses who respond to
routine questions and forward urgent or
abnormal messages to physicians.

14. RECORDS
Perhaps the most valuable and
pertinent functionality of portals.
Information can include lab results,
image reports, vital signs,
immunizations and medication lists.

15. THE
Future iterations of patient
portals will include:
• Disease specific and
physician approved
patient education
• Disease specific
social networking
• Images – xray, CT
scans, MRI
• Doctor Notes
FUTURE

16. “DOES MY
DOCTOR
HAVE A
PATIENT
PORTAL?”
Ask your physician when they are
implementing a portal.
If your
physician has a portal, use it! If you
don’t like it, tell your physician why. It
is our responsibility as patients to be
quarterback of our healthcare and
patient portals are the gateway to
improved communication and better
healthcare outcomes.

17. John Crowley
C!
Y!
john@medqb.com
w
www.medqb.com
www.medqb.wordpress.com
B! @medqb