In 2022, the global market value of patient portals within the clinical research and healthcare industries was estimated to be US $2.9 billion and is expected to climb at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.44% between 2023 and 2030. A number of factors are contributing to this increase in popularity of digital patient portals, including the surge in telemedicine needs following the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advances enabling better integration of mobile-based health platforms, as well as federal regulations shifting to accommodate remote data accessibility. Today, numerous healthcare technology and software companies, including Vial CRO (Contract Research Organization), are providing innovative patient health data platforms that promote seamless digital communication. However, these portals were not always as ubiquitous as they seem now; read on as we trace the evolution of the digital patient portal and explore their impact on healthcare accessibility and patient engagement.
The Evolution of the Digital Patient Portal
Digital patient portals are secure online platforms that enable patients to access their personal health data at any time, typically in the form of websites or mobile apps. A digital patient portal is often integrated with electronic medical/health records (EMRs/EHRs) and can have text-based features to allow more convenient access to communication with healthcare providers.
Initial implementation
Although online portals have generally been around since the 1990s, their adoption into the healthcare industry was slower compared with other sectors, particularly finance and consumer businesses. Potential reasons to explain the slow adoption of digital patient portals by healthcare providers could be restrictions posed by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule) to protect patient data privacy, as well as limited financial benefits of developing such platforms for clinicians. However, this was addressed years later with the passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 by President Obama, particularly the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) Act within the ARRA.
The HITECH Act invested $19 billion into health information technology, such as EMRs and digital patient portals, to serve as an economic stimulus package and incentivize their adoption by healthcare providers. In 2008, prior to ARRA and the HITECH Act, only 10% of hospitals in the United States had transitioned from paper-based methods into EMRs, primarily due to their exorbitant set-up costs. Therefore, these laws launched the early implementation of digital patient portals by providing additional guidance to ensure healthcare institutions remained in compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules.
Adoption and usage over time
By 2012, nearly 57% of healthcare institutions across the United States already had patient portals in place, with the survey reporting 71% of these institutions valuing the idea of integrating EMR systems with a patient portal offered by the EHR vendor. As of 2020, nearly 90% of healthcare systems in the US offered patient portals with access to EMRs. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), 40% of US individuals surveyed between January 2020 and April 2020 had accessed a patient portal, representing a 13% increase since 2014. Today, digital patient portals have expanded from providing health data for patients originating from EMRs, to data contained in systems such as electronic data capture (EDC), electronic source (eSource), and electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) platforms. To learn about the history of these trial technologies and their adoption within the clinical research industry, read more here!
Factors contributing to digital patient portal usage
An observational study by Janssen et al. interviewed a small cohort, consisting of patients and healthcare providers, on their experience using a patient- and family-facing patient portal. Their findings highlight numerous factors influencing the usage of these portals by patients and the feedback regarding the overall portal design from the participants was positive. For example, while the inclusion of all health team members in correspondence within these portals was helpful, an absence of a real-time notification system caused additional barriers in functionality.
Innovative biotech companies and health technology organizations, like Vial CRO, also play a role in the growing acceptance of patient portals because they have led the path to developing this technology to be consumer-friendly and convenient for adoption. To illustrate, Vial’s suite of clinical trial technology is housed in a modern, intuitive platform that enables easy integration of data across multiple products, including the Vial EDC, eSource, and ePRO. This approach to data digitization allows for easy access to clinical trial health information from all key stakeholders, especially patients, because it provides real-time monitoring and digital communication. Furthermore, these types of well-integrated tools made possible by tech companies streamline implementation processes for clinical trial sponsors and healthcare institutions, which increases the likelihood of their usage and adoption.
Enhancing Patient Outcomes and Healthcare Access with Digital Communication
Despite their growing usage by healthcare institutions, digital patient portals still have yet to be as widely taken up by patients themselves, which may explain the mixed results these platforms have had on improving health outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. For example, they have been linked to improved preventive behaviors and control of chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma. However, the use of portals does not always result in reduced clinical visits, emergency department visits, or hospital readmissions, and their effect on missed appointments is not always significant. The variations in patient and provider adaptations to these portals may partially explain these varied outcomes.
However, digital patient portals do present a key step forward in enhancing healthcare access and patient engagement. Only recently has patient centricity begun to take hold on the clinical research and healthcare industries, and technology is playing a crucial role driving greater adoption of patient-centered approaches. In this case, having easy access to one’s personal health data promotes patient autonomy, wherein individuals are given the chance to take an active role in their care. By providing important medical resources and information at their fingertips, these portals prioritize the patient’s needs and preferences, which then improves their satisfaction and overall experience with their care. Lastly, beyond increasing data accessibility, digital patient portals also enable patients to make more informed decisions about their health, as facilitated by transparent communication with their healthcare providers. In an era witnessing the rise of telemedicine and remote healthcare, digital patient portals are becoming an essential tool for promoting globalized access to health services and increasing patient centricity.
The Future of Digital Patient Portals
Ultimately, the possibility of these portals bolstering patient engagement and healthcare will hinge on whether they provide a seamless user experience. For example, digital patient portals will benefit from incorporating user-friendly features, simplified data displays, and easy log-in access. Notifications that explain results in layman’s terms and indicate if further care is needed can also improve functionality. Despite how promising the future of digital patient portals appears, with valuable uses across both the healthcare and clinical research industries, we must also recognize and address the potential limitations their implementation may accompany. These could include issues related to data security, patient privacy, and technological accessibility; furthermore, there may be additional digital regulations and policies that these platforms must follow. Regardless, tech companies developing digital communication tools shouldn’t forgo the opportunity to collaborate closely with patients and families, as they are the target audience, and better address existing gaps in health equity and data accessibility barriers.
About Vial: The CRO for Biotech, Powered by Technology
Vial is a next-generation, tech-first CRO delivering faster, more efficient trials at dramatically lower costs for biotech sponsors. We recognize the power that digitalization holds in improving healthcare accessibility across the world and our mission is to empower scientists to discover groundbreaking scientific therapeutics that help people live happier, healthier lives. Our proactive team of innovators, engineers, and ClinOps (Clinical Operations) leaders have built a global, full-service CRO powered by intuitive end-to-end technology. Contact a Vial representative today to discover how we can make a difference for your next clinical trial!
