The Use of Patient Portals to Support Patients Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes

The increasing use of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare organizations presents patients an opportunity to access their health information and actively take part in there are through the EHR. Healthcare organizations can promote patient access to their health information through patient portals (Sun et al., 2018). Patient portals can provide secure online access to patient’s health data such as medications, labs, allergies, immunizations, and discharge information. Patient portals also enable patients to communicate with their providers through secure messaging, prescription refill requests, as well as secure appointments and manage payments. Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires long-term management and monitoring of blood glucose levels to prevent complications (Sun et al., 2018). Therefore, this paper will critique evidence regarding using patient portals to support patients newly diagnosed with diabetes. The Use of Patient Portals to Support Patients Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes Essay

According to Pikkemaat et al (2019), a diabetes diagnosis is a challenge for each patient. Diabetes is a chronic condition that is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular complications, eye complications, risk of lower limb amputation, foot ulcers, kidney complications, and premature death. Therefore, close monitoring and effective control of glucose levels and making the required lifestyle modifications are the keys to reducing the risk of complications. Lee et al (2018) support this and provides that diabetes management aims to ensure effective management of glucose levels to reduce the risk of complications and improve symptoms. This necessitates close monitoring of both glucose levels and vital signs, as well as the effective working relationship between patients and healthcare providers. As a result, Lee et al (2018) explain that advanced and innovative technologies such as patient portals or telehealth can allow patients with diabetes to be monitored and managed remotely. The utilization of patient portals has been shown to improve patient engagement and also improve health outcomes like treatment adherence. Therefore, patients newly diagnosed with diabetes can benefit s0ignificantly from patient portals. For example, this patient population can use patient portals to seek clarification about treatment regimen from their healthcare providers or consult regarding the necessary lifestyle modifications. Nurses and other healthcare providers normally have adequate knowledge to appropriately answer questions from patients and also respond to patient-generated messages in the patient portals (Lee et al., 2018).

Moreover, newly diagnosed patients have little knowledge and skills about proper self-management of diabetes. Therefore, they need to be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage the condition. Coughlin et al (2018) conducted a study to investigate the effect of using of patient portals to manage diabetes condition. According to the findings of this study, using the patient portals among patients having diabetes was important in improving diabetes management and improving the quality of life for the patients. However, the findings indicated that lack of computer skills, lack of internet access, and low health literacy are some of the factors that hindered patients with diabetes from using patient portals (Coughlin et al., 2018). Therefore, further research is needed on how these hindrances can be overcome to facilitate the utilization of patient portals among patients with diabetes.

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Evidence indicates that proper and effective management of diabetes can be attained through lifestyle modifications and providing interventions that encourage patients to take a more proactive role in diabetes self-management. Effective self-management of diabetes encompasses monitoring glucose levels, physical activities, a healthy diet, and adhering to the prescribed treatment regimen. Chung et al (2018) conducted a cohort study to evaluate how the use of secure electronic messaging patient portals in patients with diabetes improved the management of diabetes. The findings from this cohort study demonstrated that patients found patient portals more costs effective, improved access, and convenient; therefore, patients often preferred patient portals to initiate communications with their clinicians at any time and any location. More importantly, findings by Chung et al (2018) demonstrated that patient portals were allied to better clinical processes and better diabetes outcomes for the patients. Therefore, according to the findings of this study, patients newly diagnosed with diabetes can significantly benefit from the use of patient portals by helping them better manage their treatment regimen and adopt better lifestyles (Chung et al., 2018). Through patient portals, patients with a new diagnosis of diabetes can consult and initiate communications with healthcare providers to be guided on the treatment regimen, glucose levels, and identify any impending complication. This can ensure better diabetes outcomes and clinical processes.   The Use of Patient Portals to Support Patients Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes Essay

Sun et al (2018) conducted a systematic review to study the effect of patient portal portals on outcomes of diabetes. The findings by Sun et al (2018) demonstrated that diabetes-specific portals helped patients to get individualized patient education, send blood glucose readings to the healthcare providers, and receive personalized feedback from the healthcare team. This indicates patient portals can promote engagement, improve communication between patients, and improve clinical outcomes during the management of diabetes. Accordingly, patient portals are recommendable for patients with a new diagnosis of diabetes. Moreover, patient portals have been shown to reduce medical errors, improve adherence to the treatment regimen, and provide patient-provider communication. Therefore, because patients with new diagnoses are likely to lack adequate knowledge and skills to manage their conditions, patient portals can benefit individuals with a new diagnosis of diabetes.

All the included studies indicate that, patient portals are very helpful for patients. Patient portals improve the engagement of patients and facilitate communication between patients with their healthcare providers, regardless of the time or location. Additionally, through patient portals, patients can perform activities like the convenient request of prescription refills and also reduce visits to the emergency department. Therefore, according to the reviewed studies, patient portals may be very helpful for patients with a new diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that needs close monitoring of blood glucose levels, adherence to the prescribed medications, potential complications, and implementation of the appropriate lifestyle modifications. Through patient portals, patients can consult clinicians about the treatment regiment, or any other issue that they may need guidance and clarification. Generally, evidence shows that the use of patient portals can lead to improved safety of care and quality of care for patients with diabetes. Further research is needed to address factors that hinder patients with diabetes from using patient portals.

References

Coughlin, S. S., Heboyan, V., Young, L., De Leo, G., & Wilkins, T. (2018). Use of a web portal by adult patients with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus seen in a family medicine outpatient clinic. Journal of hospital management and health policy, 2, 21. https://doi.org/10.21037/jhmhp.2018.04.04

Chung, S., Panattoni, L., Chi, J., & Palaniappan, L. (2017). Can secure patient-provider messaging improve diabetes care? Diabetes Care, 40(10), 1342-1348.

Dendere, R., Slade, C., Burton-Jones, A., Sullivan, C., Staib, A., & Janda, M. (2019). Patient portals facilitating engagement with inpatient electronic medical records: a systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research, 21(4), e12779.

Lee, P. A., Greenfield, G., & Pappas, Y. (2018). The impact of telehealth remote patient monitoring on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. BMC health services research, 18(1), 495.

Pikkemaat, M., Boström, K. B., & Strandberg, E. L. (2019). “I have got diabetes!” – interviews of patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. BMC endocrine disorders, 19(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-019-0380-5.

Sun, R., Korytkowski, M. T., Sereika, S. M., Saul, M. I., Li, D., & Burke, L. E. (2018). Patient Portal Use in Diabetes Management: Literature Review. JMIR Diabetes, 3(4), e11199. https://doi.org/10.2196/11199

The Use of Patient Portals to Support Patients Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes Essay