Data Storyteller

The introduction of electronic personal health records (PHR) systems, and the patient portals used to provide patients access to those records, into the fabric of the U.S. healthcare system provides a major opportunity to encourage positive health management practices, such as chronic disease management and increased care plan adherence, through greater engagement of the patient.  Unfortunately, there is still a broad gap between the effective use of PHR technologies where advanced health information services are perhaps most needed, especially within the underserved communities supported by community health centers. This guide provides health centers with an adoption framework that can be used to assess the goals and methods for deploying electronic patient engagement services.

The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) has recently published several patient portal stories from patients who found success in being able to better understand their and their families conditions, care plans and health services received. These patient portal stories are meant to help both providers and patients understand how patient portals can increase a patient's engagement with their care and increase communication between healthcare staff and patients and between patients and their family members.