For many ophthalmologists, moving from paper to electronic health records has been a challenging (many would say painful) necessity, done primarily to avoid government penalties. But now that EHR has become a more familiar part of most practices, many doctors are devoting attention to maximizing its benefits. One feature that’s always offered potential benefits for both a practice and its patients is the so-called patient portal, a secure digital channel allowing patients to communicate directly with the practice via a computer or smartphone. “A patient portal is all about connectivity between the doctor and the patient,” said Sara B. Rapuano, MBA, an ophthalmology practice management consultant based in Philadelphia. Read More