What role do patient portals play in EHR systems?

Patient portals serve a crucial function in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems by empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare. They allow patients to access their health records, view test results, and keep track of their medical history. This transparency fosters better patient engagement, as individuals can monitor their health information and become more involved in their treatment decisions.

Additionally, these portals facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers, enabling secure messaging, appointment scheduling, and prescription refills. This direct line of communication helps to enhance the patient-provider relationship, ensuring that patients can easily reach out for guidance, ask questions, and follow up on concerns.

While patient portals do contribute to reducing reliance on paper records and can incorporate telehealth features, their primary strength lies in providing direct access to health information and enhancing communication with care teams, which directly influences patient satisfaction and health outcomes.