A web-based, patient-centered toolkit used in the hospital setting helped engage patients in understanding and developing their care plans and may improve communication with providers overall, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Researchers provided both patients and caregivers with iPads they could use to access tools related to their care plans during hospitalization. Patients and providers most often used the web-based tool kits to establish goals, view tests results and medications. They also used a messaging functionality to report health needs, preferences or concerns.
Although non-critically ill patients were more likely to use the technology than critically ill patients were, the researchers concluded that both populations used it as a helpful mediator.