If you use a patient portal through your doctor's office, it turns out you're much more likely to get a flu shot, keep an eye on your blood pressure and get those preventative tests you know you need. That's what researchers discovered, according to Kevin Mahoney, chief executive officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
"An engaged patient is more likely to follow guidelines of when you're supposed to get your preventative heath care screenings. The patient portal is a patient engagement tool and I think we validated that if we use that engagement tool, more engaged patients better adherence to preventive health guidelines," he said,
He says this could give doctors a new use for this online tool — using it to become your digital reminder.