In 2016, nearly 82 percent of patients accessed their EHRs through a patient portal — a significant increase from 2013 when less than 5 percent had taken advantage of it — according to a survey released at the American Health Information Management Association conference in Los Angeles.
AHIMA surveyed 167 people who were enrolled in a campus-based, online College of Health Professions course, alumni of the B.S. in health information management at the researchers' university, members of a local AHIMA professional chapter, or friends and family of the researchers.
Here are the top reasons patients accessed their portals.
1. Viewing lab results (35 percent)
2. Requesting medication renewal (19 percent)
3. Requesting appointments (22 percent)
4. Secure messaging (19 percent)
5. Viewing other results (5 percent)
Most patients said they were satisfied (38 percent) or very satisfied (53 percent) with their portals.
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