--- title: "Patterns of EHR portal use in pts with CVD or diabetes. | Sutter Health" description: "There are naturally occurring groups of EHR web portal users within patients with CVD and diabetes with opportunities for patient engagement." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/patterns-of-ehr-portal-use-in-pts-with-cvd-or-diabetes-1055312712" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Patterns of EHR portal use in pts with CVD or diabetes. # The wired patient: patterns of electronic patient portal use among patients with cardiac disease or diabetes. Jones JB, Weiner JP, Shah NR, & Stewart WF. _J Med Internet Res. 17(2):e42. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3157._ 2015-02-20 ## Abstract BACKGROUND: As providers develop an electronic health record-based infrastructure, patients are increasingly using Web portals to access their health information and participate electronically in the health care process. Little is known about how such portals are actually used. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, our goal was to describe the types and patterns of portal users in an integrated delivery system. METHODS: We analyzed 12 months of data from Web server log files on 2282 patients using a Web-based portal to their electronic health record (EHR). We obtained data for patients with cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes who had a Geisinger Clinic primary care provider and were registered "MyGeisinger" Web portal users. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to longitudinal data to profile users based on their frequency, intensity, and consistency of use. User types were characterized by basic demographic data from the EHR. RESULTS: We identified eight distinct portal user groups. The two largest groups (41.98%, 948/2258 and 24.84%, 561/2258) logged into the portal infrequently but had markedly different levels of engagement with their medical record. Other distinct groups were characterized by tracking biometric measures (10.54%, 238/2258), sending electronic messages to their provider (9.25%, 209/2258), preparing for an office visit (5.98%, 135/2258), and tracking laboratory results (4.16%, 94/2258). CONCLUSIONS: There are naturally occurring groups of EHR Web portal users within a population of adult primary care patients with chronic conditions. More than half of the patient cohort exhibited distinct patterns of portal use linked to key features. These patterns of portal access and interaction provide insight into opportunities for electronic patient engagement strategies. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25707036) ![J.B. Jones, Ph.D., MBA](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/rIQfkoa5XfKJYCHSVrDKsACQSNJ7jTljZTHKC4Lae2E/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) J.B. Jones, Ph.D., MBA Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jb-jones-phd-mba-1049680984) ## Research topics - [Cardiovascular Diseases](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Cardiovascular+Diseases%5C%22%22) - [Diabetes Type 2](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Diabetes+Type+2%5C%22%22) - [Medical Informatics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Medical+Informatics%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Meaningful use in practice using patient-specific risk in an electronic health record for shared decision making.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/shared-decision-making-using-pt-specific-risk-in-ehr-1055312661) Jones JB, Shah NR, Bruce CA, Stewart WF. Am J Prev Med. 40(5 Suppl 2):S179-86. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.01.017. 2011 May 01 - Publication ### [Machine learning and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk prediction in a multi-ethnic population.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/asvd-risk-prediction-in-multi-ethnic-population-1055312841) Ward A, Sarraju A, Chung S, Li J, Harrington R, Heidenreich P, Palaniappan L, Scheinker D, Rodriguez F. NPJ Digit Med. 3:125. doi: 10.1038/s41746-020-00331-1. eCollection 2020. 2020 Sep 23 - Publication ### [Under diagnosis of hypertension using electronic health records.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/under-diagnosis-of-hypertension-using-ehr-1055312667) Banerjee D, Chung S, Wong EC, Wang EJ, Stafford RS, Palaniappan LP. Am J Manag Care. 16(2):e35-42 2010 Feb 01 - Publication ### [Heterogeneity of treatment and outcomes among Asians with coronary artery disease in the United States.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/treatment-and-outcomes-among-asians-with-cad-in-us-1055312760) Manjunath L, Chung S, Li J, Shah H, Palaniappan L, Yong CM. J Am Heart Assoc. e014362. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.014362. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2020 May 11 - Publication ### [Relationship between spontaneous and iatrogenic hypoglycemia and mortality in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/hypoglycemia-mortality-acute-mi-1055312950) Kosiborod M, Inzucchi SE, Goyal A, Krumholz HM, Masoudi FA, Xiao L, Spertus JA. JAMA. 301(15):1556-64. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.496. 2009 Apr 15 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/patterns-of-ehr-portal-use-in-pts-with-cvd-or-diabetes-1055312712#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Patterns of EHR portal use in pts with CVD or diabetes."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/patterns-of-ehr-portal-use-in-pts-with-cvd-or-diabetes-1055312712#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"The wired patient: patterns of electronic patient portal use among patients with cardiac disease or diabetes.","headline":"Patterns of EHR portal use in pts with CVD or diabetes.","abstract":"BACKGROUND: As providers develop an electronic health record-based infrastructure, patients are increasingly using Web portals to access their health information and participate electronically in the health care process. Little is known about how such portals are actually used. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, our goal was to describe the types and patterns of portal users in an integrated delivery system. METHODS: We analyzed 12 months of data from Web server log files on 2282 patients using a Web-based portal to their electronic health record (EHR). We obtained data for patients with cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes who had a Geisinger Clinic primary care provider and were registered \"MyGeisinger\" Web portal users. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to longitudinal data to profile users based on their frequency, intensity, and consistency of use. User types were characterized by basic demographic data from the EHR. RESULTS: We identified eight distinct portal user groups. The two largest groups (41.98%, 948/2258 and 24.84%, 561/2258) logged into the portal infrequently but had markedly different levels of engagement with their medical record. Other distinct groups were characterized by tracking biometric measures (10.54%, 238/2258), sending electronic messages to their provider (9.25%, 209/2258), preparing for an office visit (5.98%, 135/2258), and tracking laboratory results (4.16%, 94/2258). CONCLUSIONS: There are naturally occurring groups of EHR Web portal users within a population of adult primary care patients with chronic conditions. More than half of the patient cohort exhibited distinct patterns of portal use linked to key features. 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