title: Internet access and patient portal readiness among patients in a group of inner-city safety-net practices.
abstract: The use of online personal health records (PHRs) threatens to transform the digital divide to a health care divide among the underserved. Little is known about underserved patients' ability to access online PHRs. We examined these factors among patients within safety-net practices. Among respondents (N = 654), only 12% had no experience of using a computer, and most were interested in using it to communicate with their provider. Age, sex, and race were not associated with interest in PHRs. A majority of patients have access to the Internet and are interested in using a PHR to manage their care, but they are not prepared.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Family Medicine Research Programs, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14620, USA. mechelle_sanders@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Mechelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fortuna
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berliant
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fiscella
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D035862:Vulnerable Populations