Date Approved

4-14-2026

Graduate Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Nursing (D.N.P.)

Degree Program

College of Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Heather Chappell

Second Advisor

Dr. Emily Bemben

Third Advisor

Dr. Lisa Zajac

Fourth Advisor

Tiffany McLaughlan

Academic Year

2025/2026

Abstract

In today’s increasingly digital healthcare environment, patient health portals have become critical tools for enhancing communication, improving care coordination, and empowering patients to actively participate in their health management. These secure, web-based platforms allow patients to access medical records, request prescription refills, view lab results, and message providers. Although patient health portals are offered by a vast majority of U.S. health systems, they remain underutilized, with only 15-30% of patients engaging with these platforms despite their potential to improve patient engagement, health status awareness, and care quality. Enhancing patient health portal use not only empowers patients but also supports broader goals of healthcare quality, efficiency, and equity. This quality improvement project evaluated whether targeted education could increase portal activation rates. The intervention occurred in February 2026, during which time a significant conversion rate among previously non-enrolled patients was seen. A paired t-test was conducted to assess the significance of portal enrollment following the intervention. Additionally, Kruskal-Wallis analyses were conducted to assess differences in portal confidence scores across demographic groups including gender/sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance type. The findings suggest that brief patient education combined with staff-assisted activation may improve patient portal enrollment in primary care settings. Integrating portal promotion strategies into routine clinic workflows may enhance patient engagement, improve communication efficiency, and support patient-centered care.

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