Image-Enabling the Patient Portal of an Electronic Health Record
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Image‑Enabling the Patient Portal of an Electronic Health Record Akhil Dhamija1,2 · Jay A. Moskovitz1 · Juli Bick1 · Timothy J. OConnor1 · Jennifer Regan1 · Laurie A. Perry1 · David Hulefeld1 · Eric Schwieterman1 · Evan Slavik1 · Alexander J. Towbin1,3 Received: 29 June 2020 / Revised: 21 October 2020 / Accepted: 18 November 2020 © Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine 2020
Abstract Today, radiology departments still rely on compact disks to share imaging studies with patients. This practice is outdated as the majority of modern computers do not possess optical drives. In effect, hospitals are providing disks to patients to enable a single use, physical transport between two locations. This practice contrasts with the original goals of providing patients with their images: to empower ownership and provide transparency about their healthcare. The purpose of this manuscript is to implement an online platform for patient image viewing through an electronic health record patient portal. The number of study viewers was recorded daily over the first 90 days on our platform. During this time, the patients viewed 12,257 imaging studies. This represents 22% of the 56,413 imaging studies performed in our department. On average, there were 136 imaging studies viewed/day (range 52–250). We determined that an online platform enabling patients to view their images is feasible. At our hospital, a large percentage of patients quickly identified this feature and began using it to view their imaging studies. Keywords Enterprise imaging · Patient portal · Enterprise viewer
Introduction Patient-focused healthcare has become increasingly valued in healthcare [1]. The recent shift toward more patientfocused care in radiology has coincided with the availability of reports within electronic health record (EHR) patient portals [2]. Today, nearly 92% of hospitals offer patients the ability to view their medical records online [3, 4]. This allows patients to consume their medical information rapidly, reliably, and remotely. While radiology departments now routinely publish results to the patient portals, most departments do not have the capability for patients to view their images via the portal. In prior work, we described how we configured our patient portal to allow patients to communicate directly with radiologists [3]. Interestingly, one of the
* Alexander J. Towbin [email protected] 1
Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, OH 45229 Cincinnati, USA
2
University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, OH, Toledo, USA
3
Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH, Cincinnati, USA
most common questions that our patients ask the radiologist is how they can view their images [3]. Historically, radiology departments have allowed patients to view their imaging studies only if requested. In the film era, patients would have to request a copy of their imaging study. The radiology file room would then locate the film and make a film-based copy of the imagi
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