Empower Your Health: The Benefits of Using a Patient Portal

Patient Portal

Engaging with the information found on the patient portal, you become the captain of your ship, making informed decisions and conscious changes. Reviewing your test results, medications, visit summaries, and communication with your health team gives you control of your health and the ability to partner with your healthcare team. Healthcare organizations keep a secure online presence available for individuals to access personal electronic health information (EHI) through apps on a smartphone or computer. This may feel overwhelming to you; however, most apps are user-friendly.

Test Results

One of the easiest ways a provider tracks health progress is through blood and imaging tests. If you have a chronic condition, your provider may order these tests regularly. Knowing what the test is for and what the expected results are helps you manage your condition through lifestyle changes in conjunction with medications and other medical therapies.

The patient portal allows you to track your results over time, which is helpful when making changes to improve your health. By reviewing your test results ahead of an appointment, you will be better prepared to use the time you have with your provider effectively to discuss any changes.

Medications

A list of your current medications is available, with the prescribing information. Your provider should be reviewing this list with you to make sure it is up to date. You’re able to easily see when the medication was prescribed, compare the prescription with the medication you receive from the pharmacy, and request refills as needed. Additionally, information about your medications may be available. By using this information to educate yourself, you can have informed conversations with your provider regarding potential side effects and benefits of your medication.

Visit Summaries

You have access to visit summaries, which contain information about the visit, current vital signs, and the plan of care your provider determines is beneficial. At times you may be stressed when visiting your provider, so these records assist you in remembering the details of the visit. A list of current medications is included on the summary, highlighting changes that were made. The provider may include educational materials as part of the visit summary about how to manage the health concerns for which you were seen. A list of current medications is included on the summary, highlighting changes that were made. The provider may include information as part of the summary about how to manage the health concerns for which you were seen.

Communication

With the patient portal, you can easily communicate directly with your provider and share documents and pictures through a secure messaging system. Your provider may share remarks on testing results. Through the messaging system, you become a partner with your provider, navigating your health and meeting your goals.

Baldwin, J. L., Singh, H., Sittig, D. F., & Giardina, T. D. (2017, September). Patient portals and health apps: Pitfalls, promises, and what one might learn from the other. In Healthcare (Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 81-85). Elsevier.

Benjamins, J., Haveman-Nies, A., Gunnink, M., Goudkuil, A., & De Vet, E. (2021). How the use of a patient-accessible health record contributes to patient-centered care: scoping review. Journal of medical Internet research, 23(1), e17655.

Tapuria, A., Porat, T., Kalra, D., Dsouza, G., Xiaohui, S., & Curcin, V. (2021). Impact of patient access to their electronic health record: systematic review. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 46(2), 194-206.

What is a patient portal? | HealthIT.gov. (2025). Retrieved 30 March 2025, from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-patient-portal

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