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The Patient Portal—Help or Hindrance?
Just Want to Talk | Last Active: 17 hours ago | Replies (258)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for your added comments -- agree with you entirely. What I gained from some of the recent comments on this is that not all of these portals are the same including how they are used by the provider as well as the patients. For example --- one portal I use has a good system for patients making appointments. Another has no option for that. The person (nurses most often) that sends and responds to messages just tells the patients when the MD wants to see them next. If the patient has a request they contact the nurse.
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You're right, these portals aren't all the same. Actually, I'm on portals at two different hospitals, and my experience is similar to yours regarding making appointments through the portal. Both portals let you make appointments for some providers, but not all. For some you have to call a central scheduling line. What I like about one of the portals is that it allows you to put yourself on a waiting list in case an earlier appointment becomes available. And if one does, they automatically contact you to see if you want to take the earlier availability. But the other portal doesn't have that option.
What I like about the portals is that when I go in for blood draws, some of the results are already in the portal before I get home...and I don't live far from the facilities.