Cook Bowling (pettwine69)

Electronic health records are becoming increasingly common tools for storing and sharing patient health information. Many vendors offer patient "portals" as a way for patients and/or proxies to view test results and communicate with their health care teams. Few researchers have looked at patient portals in the inpatient pediatric population. Our objectives were to describe portal activation and use and factors associated with these end points for hospitalized children. Retrospective, single-center study of pediatric patients birth through 17 years old who had at least one hospital admission and one or more inpatient diagnostic test performed between January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. Portal use was defined as viewing one or more test result. Multivariate logistic regression analyzed the association between patient characteristics and portal account activation and use. A total of 5862 patients with 170 685 diagnostic test results were included. A total of 40.9% of patients had an activated account, and 20.3% viewed one or more test result. Factors associated with an increased odds of portal activation and/or use included English as preferred language, white race, commercial insurance, multiple admissions, previous outpatient testing, and having both laboratory and imaging inpatient studies performed. In this study, we highlight the underuse of the patient portal in the inpatient pediatric population, especially for patients whose preferred language is not English, self-identify as multiracial and are publicly insured or uninsured. Concerted efforts to eliminate health care disparities in relation to portal activation are needed. In this study, we highlight the underuse of the patient portal in the inpatient pediatric population, especially for patients whose preferred language is not English, self-identify as multiracial and are publicly insured or uninsured. Concerted efforts to eliminate health care disparities in relation to portal activation are needed. Early diagnosis is key to improve cancer outcomes, and most cancers are diagnosed in primary care after initial symptomatic presentation. Emerging evidence suggests an increase in avoidable cancer deaths owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. To understand GPs' views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical assessment of possible cancer. A qualitative semi-structured interview study with GPs from the East of England. GPs were purposively sampled based on age, sex, and years of experience. Interviews were conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams in August and September 2020. Transcribed recordings were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. The Model of Pathways to Treatment guided the analysis. Three themes were identified across 23 interviews on GP views on the impact of (1) changes in patient help-seeking behaviour on symptoms at presentation; (2) remote consultations on managing patients with possible cancer symptoms; and (3) the COVID-19 pandemic on triaging and referring patients with possible cancer. There were positive changes to practice, but concerns were raised about the adequacy of remote consultations for assessing symptoms. Some GPs reported delayed cancer diagnoses, and uncertainty about how backlog in referrals would be managed. This study provides new evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on assessing symptomatic patients. Recommendations are made to inform safe and effective primary care clinical practice. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure appropriate symptomatic assessment now and in the future. This study provides new evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on assessing symptomatic patients. see more Recommendations are made to inform safe and effective primary care clinical practice. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and