• Health Tech

Survey Finds 96% of Patients Prefer Online Portals for Test Results.

March 28, 2023

• A survey of 8,139 patients from four U.S. academic medical centers found that 96% of patients prefer receiving their test results through online portals.
• Patients preferred to receive their test results immediately via patient portals, allowing them to take an active role in managing their health.
• More than 95% of patients who received abnormal test results preferred to access their records immediately, highlighting the importance of timely communication of test results for patient care.

 

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that 96% of patients prefer to receive their test results online. 8,139 patients from four university medical facilities in the United States participated in the poll, with most respondents requesting immediate access to their test findings via patient portals.

Given the advantages of patient portals, this desire for access to online test results is not unexpected. Patients can check their test results at any time, from anywhere, and without waiting for a call from their healthcare practitioner. In addition to offering convenience, this encourages patients to actively participate in managing their health.

According to the poll, more than 95% of patients who received abnormal test results desired to access their information immediately. This emphasizes how crucial fast test result communication is, especially for patients with abnormal results. Patients can take any necessary action or seek more guidance from their healthcare provider as soon as they can access their results.

Interestingly, the poll also revealed that patients preferred to access their test results online through the patient portal, even if their doctor still needed to do so. This shows that people prefer immediate information about their health status over waiting for their healthcare provider to contact them.

There are still concerns from healthcare professionals about releasing abnormal results before the providers can interpret the results, but with the 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule, it  mandates the immediate electronic availability of test results to patients, so health systems and providers need to adapt to this new normal where patients want to take a more active role in their healthcare.

Patient portals are now a crucial component of healthcare IT, giving patients access to information about their health, such as test results, medication lists, and appointment calendars. They provide a safe means of contacting medical professionals, requesting prescription refills, and scheduling appointments.

In conclusion, the JAMA Network Open survey highlights the value of patient portals in enabling quick access to test findings for patients. Making sure patient portals are accessible to all patients, regardless of age or technological ability, is crucial as more healthcare institutions deploy them. Patient portals can let patients take charge of their health management in this way, enhancing healthcare quality.