A patient portal is a digital extension of a practices’s electronic medical record (EMR). It gives patients controlled access to key information and actions. Common functions include viewing visit summaries, accessing treatment plans, completing intake forms, paying balances, and sending secure messages to the care team.
In rehab therapy and chiropractic settings, patient portals are used to reduce front desk workload and improve patient engagement between visits. For example, clinics use portals to collect intake paperwork before the first visit or share home exercise programs. When well implemented, they streamline administrative workflows. When poorly implemented, they can create confusion or duplicate work.
Why it matters:
Patient portals help clinics reduce manual work, improve communication, and create a more convenient experience for patients. For practice owners, they support cleaner data collection and fewer front desk interruptions.
Pro Tip:
Intake should happen before the patient walks in, not on a clipboard in the lobby. A portal only works if patients actually use it. Clinics see the most value when portals are tightly integrated into scheduling and intake workflows rather than treated as a standalone add-on.
FAQ
- Is a patient portal required? Patient portals are not universally required but are increasingly expected by patients and supported by payer and compliance standards.
- Do all patients use portals? Adoption varies. Simpler workflows and mobile-friendly access significantly improve usage rates.
- Is a patient portal HIPAA compliant? Yes, reputable patient portals use encryption to ensure that all health information and communication remain secure and private.
- Can patients see their home exercise program (HEP) in the portal? In integrated systems like Prompt, the portal often serves as the hub for accessing HEP videos and tracking adherence.