The Washington State Department of Health saw a 476 percent increase in enrollment in its patient portal for immunizations after a January measles outbreak, according to the HHS Office of the Chief Technology Officer.
Washington uses a portal called MyIR to help families track their immunization records and coordinate future vaccinations. MyIR also enables users to send their records to schools or athletic clubs. A similar system is used in Louisiana and Arizona, according to the HHS Office of the CTO on Twitter. Parents and guardians can register for access to the portal and visit a healthcare provider to confirm their immunizations before using the service.
The patient portal saw a swell in enrollment following Washington's measles outbreak, which was declared a state emergency Jan. 25. Washington's health department has confirmed 62 cases of measles as of Feb. 17.
While there are demonstrated benefits to patient portals, research shows nearly two-thirds of patients haven't used one in the past year.
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