What's New | October 10, 2012

Increasing Patient Involvement in Health Care

An increasing number of health care systems and providers offer services and tools that encourage and empower patients to take an active role in their own health care. The ability to access medical records, test results, and other health information online can increase patient involvement and facilitate patient—provider communication.

The featured Innovations describe two programs that provided patient access to online medical records via secure patient portals and a program that offered patients access to routine laboratory tests between visits, enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction.

The featured QualityTools provide resources and information to help patients and consumers make health care decisions and communicate effectively with providers.

Featured Innovations:

• Health System Offers Routine Tests Without Need for Physician Order, Enhancing Access for Small but Growing Number of Satisfied Patients

• Online Patient Access to Visit Notes Generates Positive Early Reviews From Patients and Primary Care Physicians

• Online Tools and Services Activate Plan Enrollees and Engage Them in Their Care, Enhance Efficiency, and Improve Satisfaction and Retention

Featured QualityTools:

• Cancer Survival Toolbox
Developed by National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

• Consumer Engagement Quality Toolbox
Developed by National Partnership for Women & Families

• Performance Measurement and Public Reporting Quality Toolbox
Developed by National Partnership for Women & Families

Featured Articles:

• Technology Is Improving Patients' Access to Their Health Information: A Conversation With Mary P. Griskewicz, MS, FHIMSS, Senior Director of Health Information Systems, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

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Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Electronic Referrals and Communications Reduce Wait Times for Specialty Appointments and Improve Clinician Communication and Quality of Care

• Individualized Stress Management Program Encourages Healthy Behaviors and Coping Techniques

• Redesigned Inpatient Care Model Increases Quality and Patient Satisfaction, Reduces Costs and Length of Stay

QualityTools >

• Quality Improvement Quality Toolbox
Developed by National Partnership for Women & Families