Study: Patients Want Online Access To Medical Images

In a new study by IDR Medical and Carestream Health, researchers found that patients were interested in accessing medical images such as x-rays, CT scans, and mammograms through an online patient portal, with 68% saying it was “extremely likely” they would do so if given the option.  Most respondents would also want access to clinical notes accompanying the images, which is good news for providers worried about meeting patient engagement requirements coming in Stage 2 of meaningful use.

One thousand patients who had recently undergone an imaging study participated in the survey, which was intended to gauge attitudes towards patient portal use ahead of Stage 2.  The researchers hypothesized that older patients would be less likely to use an online portal, but that patients who often get images taken or already use an online system to access other health data would frequently access a portal.