Potential of Personal Health Record Portals in the Care of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders: Provider Perspectives Journal Article

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Authors: Hill, J. N.; Smith, B. M.; Weaver, F M; Nazi, K. M.; Thomas, F. P.; Goldstein, B; Hogan, T. P.
Article Title: Potential of Personal Health Record Portals in the Care of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders: Provider Perspectives
Abstract: CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: Although personal health record (PHR) portals are designed for patients, healthcare providers are a key influence in how patients use their features and realize benefits from them. A few studies have examined provider attitudes toward PHR portals, but none have focused on those who care for individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). We characterize SCI/D provider perspectives of PHR portals, including perceived advantages and disadvantages of PHR portal use in SCI/D care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional; semi-structured interviews Setting: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Centers in the Veterans Health Administration Participants: Twenty-six SCI/D healthcare providers Interventions: None Outcome Measures: Perceived advantages and disadvantages of PHR portals Results: The complex situations of individuals with SCI/D shaped provider perspectives of PHR portals and their potential role in practice. Perceived advantages of PHR portal use in SCI/D care included the ability to coordinate information and care, monitor and respond to outpatient requests, support patient self-management activities, and provide reliable health information to patients. Perceived disadvantages of PHR portal use in SCI/D care included concerns about the quality of patient-generated health data, other potential liabilities for providers and workload burden, and the ability of individuals with SCI/D to understand clinical information accessed through a portal. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when promoting engagement of SCI/D healthcare providers in use of PHR portals, and portal features that may have the most utility in SCI/D care.
Journal Title: The journal of spinal cord medicine
ISSN: 2045-7723; 1079-0268
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: England
Date Published: 2017
Start Page: 1
End Page: 11
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1080/10790268.2017.1293760
Notes: LR: 20170322; JID: 9504452; OTO: NOTNLM; aheadofprint; SO: J Spinal Cord Med. 2017 Mar 21:1-11. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2017.1293760.