Significant disparities exist in utilization of self-scheduling radiology exams, research shows
A number of sociodemographic factors influence whether patients are more likely to utilize online portals to self-schedule screening mammograms.
When analyzing the records of more than 46,000 women who were eligible for screening mammograms, researchers revealed that less than 1% took advantage of online self-scheduling tools. Women who did utilize online platforms were found to be younger, English speaking, white non-Hispanics who lived in areas with greater access to computers and the internet.
“Telehealth technologies, such as patient portals, offer patients increased convenience and direct access to diagnostic results and potentially increases patients’ sense of ownership and autonomy over their overall health by allowing messaging communication with providers and scheduling their appointments using this application,” corresponding author Patricia Balthazar, MD, from the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and co-authors explained. “Increasing availability of computers and mobile devices may improve patient access and engagement with their electronic health records (EHR) through the use of online patient portals.”
Since the onset of COVID, telehealth services have increased dramatically. While the availability of remote consultations and scheduling is convenient and beneficial to many, it has also shined a light on disparities in healthcare. Technology is utilized less in underserved communities, minority groups, the socioeconomically disadvantaged and in elderly populations. Consequently, this limits the benefits of patient portals for self-scheduling radiology exams to those for whom digital access is readily available.
The current study is yet another example of this inequity. In it, researchers found that women who utilized self-scheduling options on patient portals were most often white non-Hispanics with commercial insurance. Compared to those who did not prefer online scheduling, they were also younger, with an average age of 53.4, and resided in areas with higher internet access. Experts noted that language appeared to be the greatest factor in choosing to self-schedule online versus the traditional pathway, with English-speaking women most often taking advantage of patient portals.
However, the experts pointed out that out of 46,083 patients, only 302 used the online self-scheduling pathway. So, although there are disparities in access, online patient portals were still significantly underutilized, the experts suggested.
“Although online portals can empower patients to take charge of their own health records, institutions should recognize that online scheduling may disenfranchise a large number of patients, and multiple solutions (as well as outreach and societal improvements in technology access) will be necessary before traditional methods of scheduling can be eliminated,” the authors wrote.
The study can be viewed in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.