Introduction: The primary objective of this study was to examine patient portal usage from pre- to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what impact the pandemic had on portal usage by patient sub-populations. The second study objective was to assess differences in portal usage by chronic disorders from pre- to post-onset of the pandemic.
Methods: Patient portal data were extracted and analyzed from a non-profit healthcare system in the Mid-Atlantic region. A total of 153,628 unique patients with patient portal account were included in this study. We assessed patient portal usage from pre-onset (March 2019-February 2020) to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-February 2021). We examined usage by patient sub-populations (age, sex, race, ethnicity), comorbid conditions, and health insurance type.
Results: Differences were seen in specific patient portal actions. Increases were seen in immunization views (0.43, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.46) and health record views (0.43, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.46) from post-onset compared to pre-onset. A decrease was noted in prescription renewal (medication) views (-0.07, 95% CI -0.09, -0.05) from pre- to post-onset There was a decrease in both immunization views and health record views among Black patients (-0.07, 95% CI: -0.11, -0.03) in comparison to White patients, but an increase in prescription renewal (medication) views (0.07, 95%CI 0.04, 0.09) amongst Black patients compared to White patients.
Conclusions: Patient portals are integral to patient care, allowing patients to actively engage in their care and communicate with their healthcare team about ongoing health needs. However, prior disparities in patient portal access have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and solutions to address these disparities are urgently needed.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105204 | DOI Listing |
Cureus
December 2024
Critical Care, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, USA.
This is a case of a young, 20-year-old, male Navy recruit who was admitted to our healthcare facility with intermittent atypical chest pain and limiting exertional symptoms and was diagnosed with myocardial bridging (MB) as the most likely etiology of his chest after the complete cardiac workup, leading to his career limitations due to potential risks. Our patient presented with atypical chest pain and limiting exertional symptoms. Chest pain was non-radiating.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShoulder Elbow
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, IL, USA.
Long head of the biceps tendon pathology is a well-described proximal shoulder pain generator. While optimal treatment strategy remains controversial, popular operative management includes biceps tenodesis. However, appropriate restoration of the anatomic length-tension relationship of the biceps with tenodesis remains a challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAJPM Focus
February 2025
Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
Introduction: Patient portals may facilitate breast cancer screening and could be an important factor to address inequities; however, this association is not well characterized. The authors sought to examine this association in a large academic health system to inform interventions to address breast cancer screening inequities.
Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study among Black patients in a large academic health system using logistic regression to examine the association between breast cancer screening and portal use, adjusting for multilevel covariates and interactions.
JMIR Hum Factors
January 2025
Nursing Research, Department of Nursing, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.
Background: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) aims to improve patient access to care and communication with clinical providers. Overall, understanding the usability of RPM applications and their influence on clinical care workflows is limited from the perspectives of clinician end users at a cancer center in the Northeastern United States.
Objective: This study aims to explore the usability and functionality of RPM and elicit the perceptions and experiences of oncology clinicians using RPM for oncology patients after hospital discharge.
Foot Ankle Spec
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois.
Background: Owing to the risk for septic arthritis, traumatic arthrotomies are an urgent surgical problem for the treating orthopaedic surgeon. Traditionally, diagnosis is with the saline load test (SLT), although in the awake patient is an invasive and potentially painful procedure. While computerized tomography (CT) has been shown to be a reliable diagnostic tool for traumatic arthrotomies of other joints, its role has only recently been investigated in the setting of ankle arthrotomy.
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