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Appl Clin Inform 2019; 10(04): 625-633
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1694750
Research Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Nurses' Expectations of an Inpatient Portal for Hospitalized Patients and Caregivers

Peter L. T. Hoonakker
1   Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Rebecca J. Rankin
2   Department of Nursing, Nursing Informatics, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Jennifer C. Passini
3   Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Jenny A. Bunton
4   Department of Health Information Services, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Bradley D. Ehlenfeldt
4   Department of Health Information Services, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Shannon M. Dean
3   Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Anne S. Thurber
3   Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Michelle M. Kelly
3   Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by the Department of Pediatrics Research and Development Grant at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. This publication was also supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award program through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, grant UL1TR000427. Funding sources had no involvement in study design, analysis, or interpretation of data.
Further Information

Publication History

19 March 2019

29 June 2019

Publication Date:
28 August 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Background Patient portals are intended to engage patients and enhance patient-centered care. Recent studies suggest that the information within portals could provide benefits to patients and their caregivers during hospitalization; however, few studies have examined nurse and staff expectations of portals when used in the hospital setting.

Objective This article examines inpatient nurse and support staff expectations of a commercially available inpatient portal prior to its hospital-wide implementation.

Methods In this cross-sectional study, nurses and support staff were surveyed 1 month prior to the implementation of an inpatient portal for patients. Items included respondent characteristics, satisfaction with online inpatient portal training, expectations of the effects of portal use on patients, caregivers, and staff, overall acceptance, and barriers to its implementation.

Results Of 881 respondents, 73.0% were staff nurses, 18.4% nurse assistants, 4.3% unit coordinators, and 1.2% nurse managers. Respondents were generally satisfied with the portal information they received from online training. A majority liked the portal to some extent prior to its use (66.7%); however, they noted multiple implementation barriers, including: tablets would get lost/damaged (66.2% of respondents), patients and/or caregivers would have too many questions (48.5%), and staff would have problems integrating it into their workflow (44.7%). Respondents working on medical units had higher expectations (p < 0.001) and acceptance (p < 0.01) of the portal than those on surgical and intensive care units. Nurse managers were more positive than respondents with other job roles were (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion Overall, nurse and support staff had high expectations of the effects of inpatient portal use prior to its hospital-wide implementation. They thought it would benefit patients and/or their caregivers; however, they also perceived several barriers to its implementation. These results will be used in conjunction with patient and caregiver perspectives to inform future efforts to evaluate and improve upon inpatient portal implementation and dissemination across health systems.

Keywords

patient portal - inpatient - implementation - expectations - nurses and staff personnel

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

This study was performed in compliance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, and, as quality improvement, was deemed exempt from full review by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Institutional Review Board.


 

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