Home Forums Discussions Feedback and Recommendations Patient Portal

I know this concept has been touched on before but I cannot seem to find any active forums on it.

Does anyone know if there is a "Patient Portal" in the pipeline for AC? Something that will allow patients to communicate with the office for questions, refills, requests, etc?

Thanks

UpDox currently has this service that can integrate with AC. Search for posts on UpDox.

Look at the new website. There is a page devoted to an upcoming patient portal in 2011.

Try this link http://amazingcharts.com/services/patient-services/

That's a wonderful idea of AC but I can't imagine insurers reimbursing for it nor patients being willing to pay for it.

I am sorry but...."even converse with you via secure messaging (if you chose to offer that service)." .....is a sure way for patients taking up all your time without you getting any reimbursement.

When we send things via the portal (labs or procedure reports) we tack on a template message that says something like "If you have brief questions at this point, feel free to hit the reply button. There is a modest fee associated with this ($25) so that some issues that perviously required an office visit can be handled more conveniently. Please be aware that your insurance will probably not pay for this service; nevertheless, it may be more convenient for you. Not all issues can be properly addressed in this manner, and if this is the case you will be asked to make an appointment."

We don't get many takers once the patients know it won't be a freebie, but a few do, and it saves time for us all. Plus, our patients love getting copies of their labs and procedure notes.

With RelayHealth, there is a webVisit (online consult) option. When we send labs back, we add a note that if they have further questions they should request a webVisit or schedule an appointment. We currently charge $35 for webVisits. They are usually used for presumably uncomplicated UTIs, valtrex renewals and other presumbably simple issues.

This can be a nice addition to AC. I'm wondering about the details. Will there be an addtional charge to us and if so, how much? Will it have a templated Online Consultation ability? Automatically charge credit cards?

I'd even be interesed in being a Beta. Problem is, we've been offering access to us via RelayHealth at no cost (to the patient). I don't know if we could transition them to a portal that they must pay to access unless it offers something that they really value--more than just some message communications and getting their labs that way.

It will meet one of the requirements for meaningful use. I'm not sure if this is one of the optional or mandatory ones that will be required down the line, but there is a rationale for it.

If it can be used for appointments and checking info that would be great.