Page 29 - Part 2 Navigating Electronic Media in a Healthcare Setting

SVMIC Navigating Electronic Media in a Healthcare Setting

involved with their care. For those patients who continue not to
use the portal, the practice must communicate with them by other

means. It is not sufficient to rely solely on the portal when the data

log verification system confirms that a patient is not using it.

Another potential problem arises when providers do not regularly

check their own patient portals. A clinical staff member should be
assigned to check the portal at a minimum once per day, but twice

per day is preferable. Typically, portals should be checked once in

the morning and once in the afternoon. A backup clinician should
be assigned to monitor the portal in the event the primary provider

is out of the office.

Pediatricians and other providers who treat minors are often

confronted with the problem of how to restrict the access that the

patient’s parents or guardians have to portal information when any
of the following occurs:

 The patient reaches the age of majority

 A parent’s right to medical records is restricted by court
order

 The minor patient invokes a statutory right to privacy

typically related to the testing and/or treatment for STDs,

pregnancy or contraception

This is often difficult because portals are not usually designed to

restrict access beyond the initial authorization process previously
discussed. Therefore, it is up to the provider to determine the best

means to keep the information confidential and restrict the

parents’ or guardians’ access. This can place a significant burden
on the provider. Unfortunately, because of the variety of scenarios

that can arise and the varying state laws involved, it is beyond the

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