Partnership, bond, trust, and open communication are some key factors that describe a genuine relationship between a provider and a patient. Patients First is one such health care entity that strives to strike a balance between patient care and technologically advancing times. By introducing, then rapidly expanding, the electronic health records (EHR) system, with patient portal, Patients First tackled its implementation from a patient, provider, and staff perspective.
Serving in 21 locations in six east central Missouri counties, Patients First understood the importance, and convenience, of having an EHR. Satisfying the Meaningful Use requirement, they started by introducing the patient portal (PP) to staff members that were patients of Patients First providers. This provided an added advantage of testing out the system before rolling it out to all patients. The PP enrollment process started by creating word-of-mouth awareness, sending personalized and bulk emails, creating flyers and informational materials, creating an awareness through billboards, radio, and Patients First website, and staff members wearing promotional buttons (“Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption”, 2012).
As demonstrated by research done in Irizarry, Dabbs, and Curran (2015) article, PP is a good way to involve patients in their own care. Offering this medium gives patients a chance to learn and explore technology, forces them to take control (if encouraged by providers), and creates awareness of several chronic conditions.
From a clinician perspective, Patients First providers primarily focused on the promise they made as an organization. They helped, and encouraged, patients and family members to enroll in the PP, they were astonished by the number of geriatric patients that opted to enroll, and they discovered the restricted flexibility they had to customize the portal, therefore adapted. From a patient perspective, there was an appreciation factor for the ease of access to clinical summaries (written in simple language for better understanding), educational materials, accessibility to staff members, and obtaining lab results and refills (“Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption”, 2012).
102, of the 107 providers, successfully attested for the Meaningful Use Medicare incentive program by November 2011. For process improvement over the years, Patients First collaborated with Primaris, Regional Extension Center, and a former Director of Health Information Technology (“Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption”, 2012). In short, thus far, Patients First has stood by its pledge of serving their patients to the best of their ability, being flexible, creating a culture change, and educating patients.
Current industry standards align with the efforts made by Patients First. This was aptly exhibited in Gritzer, Davenport, Dark, and Khanna (2019). The article highlighted the prominence of patient and provider engagement in handling medical conditions and obtaining a conducive treatment plan. My organization has progressively adapted to these changes by introducing EHR, using electronic communication, and creating awareness. Competitive times have forced health care entities, including my organization, to be innovative and acclimate to patient needs. Today, implementing a new practice should involve patient input and patient support. This can help practices satisfy government requirements and attain patient loyalty.
References
Gritzer, L., Davenport, M., Dark, M. & Khanna, N. (2019, August). Coaching small primary care practices to use patient portals. Annals of Family Medicine, 17(1), S83. doi:10.1370/afm.2381
Irizarry, T., Dabbs, A. D., & Curran, C. R. (2015, June). Patient portals and patient engagement: A state of the science review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(6), e148. doi:10.2196/jmir.4255
Viewing patients as partners: Patient portal implementation and adoption (2012). Retrieved from Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption | HealthIT.gov
Serving in 21 locations in six east central Missouri counties, Patients First understood the importance, and convenience, of having an EHR. Satisfying the Meaningful Use requirement, they started by introducing the patient portal (PP) to staff members that were patients of Patients First providers. This provided an added advantage of testing out the system before rolling it out to all patients. The PP enrollment process started by creating word-of-mouth awareness, sending personalized and bulk emails, creating flyers and informational materials, creating an awareness through billboards, radio, and Patients First website, and staff members wearing promotional buttons (“Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption”, 2012).
As demonstrated by research done in Irizarry, Dabbs, and Curran (2015) article, PP is a good way to involve patients in their own care. Offering this medium gives patients a chance to learn and explore technology, forces them to take control (if encouraged by providers), and creates awareness of several chronic conditions.
From a clinician perspective, Patients First providers primarily focused on the promise they made as an organization. They helped, and encouraged, patients and family members to enroll in the PP, they were astonished by the number of geriatric patients that opted to enroll, and they discovered the restricted flexibility they had to customize the portal, therefore adapted. From a patient perspective, there was an appreciation factor for the ease of access to clinical summaries (written in simple language for better understanding), educational materials, accessibility to staff members, and obtaining lab results and refills (“Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption”, 2012).
102, of the 107 providers, successfully attested for the Meaningful Use Medicare incentive program by November 2011. For process improvement over the years, Patients First collaborated with Primaris, Regional Extension Center, and a former Director of Health Information Technology (“Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption”, 2012). In short, thus far, Patients First has stood by its pledge of serving their patients to the best of their ability, being flexible, creating a culture change, and educating patients.
Current industry standards align with the efforts made by Patients First. This was aptly exhibited in Gritzer, Davenport, Dark, and Khanna (2019). The article highlighted the prominence of patient and provider engagement in handling medical conditions and obtaining a conducive treatment plan. My organization has progressively adapted to these changes by introducing EHR, using electronic communication, and creating awareness. Competitive times have forced health care entities, including my organization, to be innovative and acclimate to patient needs. Today, implementing a new practice should involve patient input and patient support. This can help practices satisfy government requirements and attain patient loyalty.
References
Gritzer, L., Davenport, M., Dark, M. & Khanna, N. (2019, August). Coaching small primary care practices to use patient portals. Annals of Family Medicine, 17(1), S83. doi:10.1370/afm.2381
Irizarry, T., Dabbs, A. D., & Curran, C. R. (2015, June). Patient portals and patient engagement: A state of the science review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(6), e148. doi:10.2196/jmir.4255
Viewing patients as partners: Patient portal implementation and adoption (2012). Retrieved from Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption | HealthIT.gov
