9 Health IT Tools Patients Should Understand
May 03, 2012 10:36 AM To be actively involved in your own medical care, you need to understand the basics about electronic medical records, health information exchanges, and more. Check out our primer.
Patient Portals
A patient portal is a secure website that is typically connected to an EHR or a secure messaging system. The portal may allow patients to access a provider-based PHR and/or a subset of information within a healthcare organization's EHR. Patients can use PHRs to complete forms online, communicate with their providers, request prescription refills, pay bills, review lab results, and schedule medical appointments. The government's EHR incentive program is increasing the adoption of patient portals by requiring that visit notes be made available to patients electronically. Ask your physician if his or her practice has a portal and what you can use it for.
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