Paper Info
Title
Communicating with Vulnerable Patient Populations: A Randomized Intervention to Teach Inpatients to Use the Electronic Patient Portal.
Abstract
Background Patient portals are expanding as a means to engage patients and have evidence for benefit in the outpatient setting. However, few studies have evaluated their use in the inpatient setting, or with vulnerable patient populations. Objective This article assesses an intervention to teach hospitalized vulnerable patients to access their discharge summaries using electronic patient portals. Methods Patients at a safety net hospital were randomly assigned to portal use education or usual care. Surveys assessed perceptions of discharge paperwork and the electronic portal. Results Of the 202 prescreened eligible patients (e.g., deemed mentally competent, spoke English, and had a telephone), only 43% had working emails. Forty-four percent of participants did not remember receiving or reading discharge paperwork. Patients trained in portal use (n = 47) or receiving usual care (n = 23) preferred hospitals with online record access (85 and 83%, respectively), and felt that online access would increase their trust in doctors (85 and 87%) and satisfaction with care (91% each). Those who received training in portal use were more likely to register for the portal (48% vs. 11%; p < 0.01). Conclusion Patients had positive perceptions of portals, and education increased portal use. Lack of email access is a notable barrier to electronic communication with vulnerable patients.
Year
DOI
Venue
2018
10.1055/s-0038-1676333
APPLIED CLINICAL INFORMATICS
Keywords
DocType
Volume
patient portal,discharge summary,communication barriers,inpatient care,discharge planning
Journal
9
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
4
1869-0327
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
9
8
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Jacob N Stein100.34
Jared W Klein200.34
Thomas H. Payne3126.39
Sara L Jackson400.34
Sue Peacock520.81
Natalia Oster661.35
Trinell P Carpenter700.34
Joann G Elmore8426.55