In-hospital Enrollment Into an Electronic Patient Portal Results in Improved Follow-up After Orthopedic Surgery: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Electronic patient portal (EPP) use is associated with lower no-show rates and increased patient satisfaction. However, there are disparities in enrollment into these communication platforms. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that guided inpatient enrollment into an EPP would improve clinical follow-up and EPP use rates for patients who underwent orthopedic surgery compared to the usual practice of providing information in the discharge summary. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled trial of 229 adult patients who were admitted to the hospital for an orthopedic condition that required a 3-month follow-up visit. Patients were cluster-randomized by week to either the control or intervention group. The control group received information on how to enroll into and use the EPP in their discharge paperwork, whereas the intervention group was actively enrolled and taught how to use the EPP. At 3 months postdischarge, the patients were followed to see if they attended their follow-up appointment or used the EPP. RESULTS: Of the 229 patients, 83% (n=190) presented for follow-up at 3 months (control: 93/116, 80.2%; intervention: 97/113, 85.8%; P=.25). The likelihood of EPP use was significantly higher in the intervention group (control: 19/116, 16.4%; intervention: 70/113, 62%; odds ratio [OR] 8.3, 95% CI 4.5-15.5; P<.001). Patients in the intervention group who used the EPP were more likely to present for postsurgical follow-up (OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.28-10.06; P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: The inpatient enrollment of patients who underwent orthopedic surgery into an EPP increased EPP use but did not independently result in enhanced follow-up. Patients who were enrolled as inpatients and subsequently used the portal had the highest likelihood of 3-month follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03431259; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03431259