title: Patient Portals: An Underused Resource for Improving Patient Engagement.
abstract: The potential of patient portals to improve patient engagement and health outcomes has been discussed for more than a decade. The slow growth in patient portal adoption rates among patients and providers in the United States, despite external incentives, indicates that this is a complex issue. We examined evidence of patient portal use and effects with a focus on the pulmonary domain. We found a paucity of studies of patient portal use in pulmonary practice, and highlight gaps for future research. We also report on the experience of a pulmonary department using a patient portal to highlight the potential of these systems.
authors.affiliation: Robert A. Foisie School of Business, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: Bengisu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tulu
authors.affiliation: Reliant Medical Group, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trudel
authors.affiliation: Robert A. Foisie School of Business, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.affiliation: Robert A. Foisie School of Business, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Reliant Medical Group, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: Devi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sundaresan
authors.affiliation: Reliant Medical Group, Worcester, MA. Electronic address: Lawrence.Garber@ReliantMedicalGroup.org.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garber
mesh_terms: D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation
keywords: patient engagement; patient portals; personal health records; pulmonary