Summary
Background. Patient electronic health record (EHR) portals can enhance patient and family engagement
by providing information and a way to communicate with their healthcare team (HCT).
However, portal implementation has been limited to ambulatory settings and met with
resistance from HCTs.
Objective. We evaluated HCT perceptions before and 6-months after implementation of an inpatient
EHR portal application on a tablet computer given to parents of hospitalized children.
Methods. This repeated cross-sectional study was conducted with HCT members (nurses, physicians,
ancillary staff) on a medical/surgical unit at a quaternary children’s hospital. From
December 2014-June 2015, parents of children <12 years old were given a portal application
on a tablet computer. It provided real-time vitals, medications, lab results, schedules,
education, HCT information and a way to send the HCT messages/requests. HCT members
completed surveys pre- and post-implementation regarding their portal perceptions.
Pre-post differences in HCT perceptions were compared using chi-squared, Mann-Whitney
and Kruskall Wallis tests.
Results. Pre-implementation, HCT respondents (N=94) were generally optimistic about the benefits
of a portal for parents; however, all anticipated challenges to portal use. Over the
next 6-months, 296 parents used the portal, sending 176 requests and 36 messages.
Post-implementation, HCT respondent (N=70) perceptions of these challenges were significantly
reduced (all p<0.001), including: parents (will) have too many questions (69 vs. 3%,
pre-post), parents (will) know results before the HCT (65 vs. 1%), staff (would be/are)
skeptical (43 vs. 21%) and there (will be/is) not enough technical support (28 vs.
1%).
Conclusions. All HCT respondents anticipated challenges in providing a portal to parents of hospitalized
children; however, these concerns were minimized after implementation.
Keywords
Inpatient - pediatrics - engagement - health information technology - personal health
record