BOSTON – August 26, 2024 – Patient portals are vital tools for managing health information, providing patients with direct access to medical records, lab results, and communication with healthcare providers. However, two recent publications suggest their full potential is not realized until these portals support shared access for care partners, allowing them to participate in a patient’s healthcare securely and effectively.
In the first publication, “Patient Portals Fail to Collect Structured Information About Who Else is Involved in a Person’s Care,” published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, Liz Salmi and colleagues discuss the challenges of shared access. They highlight that while such access can empower care partners, current systems are often not user-friendly. Many patients and care partners resort to sharing login credentials, raising privacy and security concerns. The study advocates for EHR vendors to improve the usability of shared access features.
The second study, “Shared Access to Adults’ Patient Portals: A Secret Shopper Exercise,” published in Applied Clinical Informatics, led by Deborah Wachenheim, explores the practical challenges of setting up shared access. The exercise found that while shared access was successfully established in 15 out of 24 cases, barriers like the need for paper forms, unknowledgeable staff, and difficult technology persist. Despite these hurdles, successful access led to participants feeling more informed and better equipped for shared decision-making.
Both articles underscore the need for healthcare systems to streamline the shared access process and educate patients and care partners about these features. Improved ease of use and proactive communication are crucial steps toward broader adoption and better patient care.
For detailed findings, refer to the original publications:
- Patient Portals Fail to Collect Structured Information About Who Else is Involved in a Person’s Care (Journal of Medical Internet Research)
- Shared Access to Adults’ Patient Portals: A Secret Shopper Exercise (Applied Clinical Informatics)
Funding for this work was provided by The John A. Hartford Foundation.
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About OpenNotes
OpenNotes is an international movement spreading, studying, and teaching transparent communication among patients, families, and clinicians. When clinical notes are shared with patients, they are called ‘open notes.’ OpenNotes is motivated by evidence indicating that when health professionals offer patients and families ready access to clinical notes, the quality and safety of care improves. OpenNotes is a not-for-profit research lab based at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major Harvard Medical School teaching hospital.
