Consumers show a strong preference to getting their medical records online, if given instruction on how to easily access them, according to a survey by Xerox and Harris Poll.
Sixty-four percent of more than 2,000 U.S. adults do not currently use online patient portals, but more than half of them, at 57 percent, said they would be “much more interested and proactive in their personal healthcare if they had online access,” the survey said.
Security remains a top concern, but most adults just aren’t aware of patient portals, according to the survey, suggesting health systems and physicians could do a better job of outreach. Among those who do not use patient portals, 35 percent did not know a portal was available and 31 percent said their physician had never spoken to them about portals. Among those who do use portals, 59 percent say they have been much more interested and proactive in their personal healthcare since they received access.
Hospitals should be particularly interested in utilizing such portals, since stage 2 Meaningful Use achievement can be helped if providers demonstrate five percent of patients are using secure portals to view, download and transmit health information. Although less than 720 hospitals have met MU Stage 2 requirements so far, the survey shows an appetite among Americans to use the portals.
Given the incentives, provider organizations should look to so-called Millenials, aged 18-34, and Baby Boomers of 55 and up, according to the survey.
“A mobile generation, Millennials are more likely to report the highest preference in accessing patient portals on the go (43 percent on smartphones),” the survey said. “Millennials are more interested in their medical records (57 percent) than any other content on online patient portals.”
Such consumers also want to be able to view personalized recommendations to improve their health, at 44 percent, information about additional services from their doctor, also at 44 percent. Twenty-three percent said they want industry news about health topics of interest to them, as well.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Baby Boomers are most likely to have already used a portal, with 83 percent between the ages of 55 and 64 having done so, according to the survery.
“Many Boomers who do not use portals say they would be much more engaged in their care if they received access to medical information online (56 percent of those ages 55 to 64, and 46 percent of those ages 65 or older),” the survey noted.
In that same group, 70 percent say they do or would schedule appointments; 64 percent access/review medical records/test results; 60 percent ask their physicians questions; 58 percent order prescription refills, and 40 percent request a referral.
