Impaired seniors falling behind peers regarding EHR access

A study of seniors finds that a digital divide could be developing between those who can access their records online and those who cannot.

Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study surveyed internet use of about 19,000 Americans who were at least 65 years old and who did not live in nursing homes. The proportion who reported using the internet in any way doubled from 21 percent in 2002 to 42 percent in 2010. That increase, however, varied by group characteristics and health status.

People with functional impairments, such as loss of a sense or the ability to walk, can have more difficulty in using a patient portal to view their health data, according to the study. Providers working to address the patient engagement requirement in Stage 2 of the Meaningful Use incentive program need to consider that, the authors said.

The biggest gains were found among groups that started with the lowest usage rates which are those aged 75 and older, not white or who considered themselves to be in poor or fair health.

Internet use among those with functional impairment grew from 10 percent in 2002 to 23 percent in 2010. Unless their internet use increases, these people could be left behind as healthcare increasingly goes digital, the authors said.

People with functional impairments might need more assistance than just being shown how to access a patient portal, such as software that reads web pages aloud or the ability to operate a computer using voice commands. Healthcare providers might need to enlist caregivers to help them access their health information, according to the authors.