Patient Portals 101: How to Use the Patient Portal to Improve Your Healthcare Experience
Are you tired of waiting on the phone to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider or request a medication refill? Do you want to stay on top of your health records without leaving the comfort of your home? A patient portal could be your answer.
A 2023 report from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging found that over three-quarters of adults aged 50 to 80 (78 percent) have used a patient portal, up from 51 percent five years earlier. This growing trend highlights how patient portals are transforming the way we manage our health.
In this article, we’ll show you how to harness the power of the patient portal to take control of your healthcare journey. Let’s dive in and discover how this incredible tool can improve your overall healthcare experience.
What is a Patient Portal?
A patient portal is a secure, web-based platform that allows you to manage your health information, communicate with healthcare providers, and access medical records and test results from anywhere at any time.
Benefits of Using a Patient Portal
Once you create an account, you can:
According to HealthIT.gov, “In 2022, most individuals who accessed their online medical records or patient portals used them to view test results (90%) or clinical notes (70%), consistent with the most common uses reported in 2020.”
How Do I Get Access to a Patient Portal?
Ensuring the Security of Your Health Information
Patient portals must comply with federal regulations to ensure the privacy and security of your healthcare information. Here are some ways your information is kept safe:
Additional Security Tips
Next Steps
In summary, the patient portal is a powerful digital tool that provides easy access to important healthcare information. It helps you stay proactive about your health by allowing you to make appointments, check lab tests, and pay bills conveniently.
