Portals useful if patients, providers both take part

Regarding “No evidence that messaging portals reduce costs, improve outcomes, review of studies shows”:

Without digging into each study, I can't comment on the factors the reviewers used to determine value.

Portals must be wanted by providers and patients. Then they must be used by both.

I have used portals where the provider does not respond. No value to either of us. I have used portals where all my lab results are available instantly—very useful to me and other providers. Likewise, having the provider notes available the next day makes it better to recall our discussion as well as retrieve those notes with other providers. How would researchers put a value on those uses? Would they only value the provider not having to retrieve, copy and mail those records? What about the value when the patient is in the ER or urgent care and those records play a vital role?

Recently I had a provider tell me I needed to reduce my sodium intake. That advice came without knowing my normal food intake for the last week or my lab results showing low sodium. Having those records changed the tune.

I think that for the interested patient, having the data makes it much better to partner with the provider in achieve optimum results. Both, though, have to want to be partners.

Joe Smith