Guiding Principles for Adolescent Web-Based Portal Access Policies: Interviews With Informatics Administrators

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Adolescent Health
• Patient Portals

Background:

• Web-based patient portals can empower adolescents in managing their health and autonomy.
• Developing portal access policies for adolescents involves balancing competing interests of administrators, patients, and parents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess informatics administrators' perspectives on guiding principles for web-based patient portal access policies in adolescent healthcare.
• To identify key considerations for creating effective and equitable portal access for young patients.

Main Methods:

• The study involved interviews with informatics administrators from US hospitals with at least 50 dedicated pediatric beds.
• A thematic analysis was conducted on the guiding principles for developing and implementing adolescent patient portal access policies.

Main Results:

• Sixty-five informatics leaders from 63 pediatric hospitals participated, representing diverse US healthcare systems.
• Nine guiding principles emerged, categorized into balancing confidentiality with care needs, simplicity with granularity, and collaboration/advocacy.
• Participants emphasized prioritizing adolescent health and safety within legal frameworks, though differing views on parental roles and specific implementations were noted.

Conclusions:

• Informatics administrators offer crucial principles for adolescent patient portal access policies, focusing on balancing confidentiality and utility.
• Policies must prioritize adolescent health and safety, adhering to legal requirements, with institutions determining practical enactment.
• Consensus among institutions and clinicians is vital for strengthening advocacy with electronic health record vendors and policymakers.