Sending information thru the portal

[kenganly]

In order to meet stage 2, we need to have 5% of patients log on to the Portal.    Unless there is another way, currently this takes many, many mouse clicks to send them this information.  for use, we search for a patient, then go to files, then online portal, then generate the default username and password, then more clicks to actually upload something to the portal.  Then to send them the link to actually get there we go to Billing, then search for an invoice and finally send them the email with portal access.  (I realize you can send a message from the files>online portal>message button, but that only sends them the email that they have something waiting for them, but not their username and password).

So... is it possible to help alleviate some of these steps?  A few suggestions. 

1. On the patient/additional info page, have an option to let all patients get the default username and password.  Would save time on every single patient.

2. Somewhere on the records page or patient page, add a small blue button that automatically emails the portal access with username and password (this would save the steps of having to come out of the record and going to the billing/invoice to do so).  It could be the same button that is already on the bottom of the invoice, just placed in an easier spot to use.

3. Have the option to make one of these buttons combine steps by uploading something (like the glasses Rx, an invoice, the clinical summary or something that we all get calls to send to patients, etc) and then emailing the patient the access all in one step.

Thanks for the consideration......

[ecastaff8]

It may help you to review the posts titled "explaining patient portal to patients" in the Patient/Tasks Section.  The nice thing is once the username and password are assigned, you do not have to go through that step again.  One of our staff assigns the username and password prior to the patient's appointment (she does this the day before the patients are seen but can be done anytime prior to the patient receiving their invoice).  Once the patients are seen and checked out, they are given their invoice/receipt which includes the website, their username and password.  We wait until the doctor and scribe sign off on the patient exam and then one of our staff uploads the medical record and clinical summary (this usually happens shortly after the patient leaves the office).  We added a sentence to the invoice that states:  Your medical records will be available to view in one business day.     We are sure to let the patients know they can now view their medical records online.
We also give them a handout (downloaded in the "explaining patient portal to patients" post) that REALLY describes in detail how they can access their records.  We are meeting Stage 2 by doing it in this manner.   Good luck!!

[kenganly]

Thanks for the detailed information and you have some useful tips (like adding it to the bottom of each invoice/receipt. I thought this was on the receipts a while back, but then I think Crystal took it off...not sure why).

Our staff is also supposed to assign the username and password on every patient too, but there are instances when it is missed (like if we get a new patient walk in and they get them back before all the housecleaning is taken care of). My point is that no matter who does it, it is still staff time and multiple clicks to achieve this process. If we are assigning the username to every single patient anyway, why not simply make it a default option and eliminate the extra clicks for every patient?

thanks again for your response......

[mdeyedoc]

Sept 16, 2014 10:30:17 GMT -6 kenganly said:

Thanks for the detailed information and you have some useful tips (like adding it to the bottom of each invoice/receipt. I thought this was on the receipts a while back, but then I think Crystal took it off...not sure why).

Our staff is also supposed to assign the username and password on every patient too, but there are instances when it is missed (like if we get a new patient walk in and they get them back before all the housecleaning is taken care of). My point is that no matter who does it, it is still staff time and multiple clicks to achieve this process. If we are assigning the username to every single patient anyway, why not simply make it a default option and eliminate the extra clicks for every patient?

thanks again for your response......

The invoice with username and password came with the MU2 update in the spring (in place of the clinical summary section). To have it print on the invoice go to Admin->Invoice and check Include information on how to access the portal under the View/Print Invoice options.  Then make sure this text is in the Default Web Portal Information section of the Invoice: 
    To login to the Patient Portal visit the website: www.crystalpm.com/PatientPortal.jsp?crystalpmid=XXXX
    username: <username>
    password: <password>
    Portal allows access to view/download/transmit medical records and gives ability to send secure messages to our office.

where XXXX is you Crystal user id

I have also asked for automatic assigning of the default user and password for patients. You can always change it if the patient wants something else. It would be great if we could choose from some options or somehow define the formula that is used for creating the username and password but it is a waste of effort to have to manually assign a password for every patient. 

Marcia

[kenganly]

Awesome sauce! Thanks for the clarification. I just looked at a printed receipt and surprise, surprise...I already had it set that way!. Shows what I know.

Automatic assigning of default user name/password and possibly placing the email portal access button in easier places would nice additions to have and thanks for asking......