Abstract

The use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has transformed the way healthcare providers deliver patient care. EHRs enable quick access to patient records from various providers, leading to a more comprehensive approach to healthcare. They have become an essential tool for both healthcare professionals and patients. The patient view of an EHR is often referred to as a patient portal. This study aims to explore the significance and advantages of patient portal utilization by examining previous research and highlighting the outcomes. It also seeks to identify barriers that prevent patients over the age of 65 from using their EHR, with the goal of addressing modifiable barriers to increase utilization rates. The data for this study was gathered from 166 paper surveys completed by patients at two primary care clinics in Mississippi and across several towns in the state. The collected data was entered into Qualtrics and analyzed using IBM SPSS statistical software by a statistician. The results indicated that among the seventy-two participants who reported having a primary care provider (PCP) offering a patient portal, less than half (45.8%) had ever accessed their patient portal. Additionally, the study concluded that in this sample population, there was no association between the use of EHR and patient satisfaction. The most common barrier reported by participants was their preference to talk to someone on the phone rather than using an online system, with the second most reported barrier being that 42.8% of participants were unaware if their PCP offered a patient portal. Interestingly, this study found that some barriers were not as prevalent in this patient population as they were in previous studies.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Graduate Nursing

Degree Date

2024

First Advisor

Dr. Renea Hopple

Document Type

Thesis

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