Mastering Your Patient Portal: A Guide to Error-Free Navigation
Patient portals are increasingly popular among older adults, allowing them to access their medical records and communicate with their doctors. While there are benefits, such as improved medication adherence, there are also downsides, including the potential for misinterpreting test results before a doctor has reviewed them. It's important to allow time for physicians to review results and respond, as healthcare providers are often understaffed. Patients should take precautions to protect their login credentials and be aware that some offices may charge for portal messaging. Best practices for using patient portals include making appointments, updating medication lists, determining vaccine and test schedules, sharing medical notes, and communicating with healthcare teams. If an issue is urgent, it's recommended to call the office instead of using the portal.