3 benefits of patient portals and messaging for older populations

1. Empowering patients to better manage their healthcare

Patient portals create value by giving patients flexible access and greater insight into their care — from scheduling appointments to viewing test results, or even messaging a provider about health concerns.

Almost 50% of adults between 65 and 80 have set up an online patient portal, according to a 2018 survey from the National Poll on Healthy Aging. However, the challenge arises in prompting patients to use their portal once it’s set up.

But understanding elderly patients’ hesitations can help providers highlight features that appeal to this age group and increase portal use. For instance, the top reason given by adults between 50 and 80 for not creating a patient portal account was an aversion to using a computer for health-related conversations.

As providers explain the portal to elderly patients, they should emphasize capabilities such as online scheduling, requesting prescription refills, or seeing lab results.

When describing features such as messaging, providers should reassure patients that the portal doesn’t have to replace in-person or phone conversations. Rather, the patient portal can complement these interactions, by providing a convenient tool to manage appointments, prescriptions, and more.

2. Granting health data access to family members

As older adults manage the complexities of their healthcare, they often rely on a spouse, adult child, or other family member for help.

With a patient portal, patients can authorize other individuals to log in and access their health data, giving family members a window into their health — even if they’re not able to come with elderly patients to every appointment.

When introducing the portal to elderly patients, be sure to explain this valuable benefit and how they can set up access for others involved in their care.

3. Building a deeper connection with providers

Flexible patient messaging features make it easier for practices to keep in touch with patients between appointments.

Sending automated phone, email, or text reminders can lighten the load for office staff. These automated messages can notify patients of upcoming appointments, office closures, orders and labs messages, and prescription messages.

Patient messaging provides another touchpoint for medical practices to strengthen their connection with elderly patients and ensure they feel supported.

By using population broadcasting features, practices can engage elderly patients in preventive health through reminders for annual checkups and flu shots. Additionally, providers can target individuals at risk of a specific health condition with reminders to schedule needed screenings.

“Once we went live we had really good training, very good support, and continue to have support as we implement Greenway Revenue Services, Greenway Patient Messaging, Direct Messaging and Greenway Community.”

Dennis Eberhardt, Clinic Director, Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center

For older adults often managing increasingly complex healthcare, having a provider who partners with them to improve their care — even outside the office — can help boost patient loyalty and satisfaction.

Through Greenway’s Patient Portal and Patient Messaging, your practice can better connect with elderly patients and meet their unique needs more effectively.