Improving Patient Portal Usage Through Enhanced Data Security: A Critical Focus for Health Care Leaders
A recent survey commissioned by LexisNexis Risk Solutions highlights a significant barrier to patient portal adoption: concerns over data security. Patient portals are intended to empower individuals to access their medical records, schedule appointments, and engage in direct communication with healthcare providers. However, despite these conveniences, a substantial number of patients remain hesitant to fully utilize these platforms.
The survey of over 3000 adults found that 33% of respondents use patient portals less than once a month, and 16% have never used one at all. Data security emerged as a central issue for non-users, with nearly half expressing concerns about the safety of their information on these portals. This contrast is striking when compared to the 11% of portal users who share similar doubts about their data’s security.
While the benefits of patient portals are clear, easy access to test results and appointment scheduling, many patients still prefer more traditional methods of communication, such as interacting directly with a health care professional. The survey revealed that 36% of non-users prefer speaking with a human, and 27% are simply unaware of their portal's existence or how to access it. Additionally, 17% cited security concerns as a major deterrent.
Interestingly, the level of trust in portal security differs between users and non-users. For example, 77% of individuals who use health insurance portals feel confident about the security of their data, while only 35% of non-users share that sentiment. A similar pattern is seen in provider portals, where 80% of users feel secure compared to just 37% of non-users.
This gap in perception points to a broader issue within the health care sector, where cybersecurity has become a growing concern. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting health care organizations due to the high value of medical records, and recent data breaches have highlighted the vulnerabilities of patient data. While patients express a preference for traditional methods of identity verification, such as usernames and passwords, these measures are often inadequate in protecting against sophisticated attacks.
To address these security concerns, experts are calling for more robust, multi-layered security protocols, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), which can provide an additional layer of verification beyond just usernames and passwords. While this approach may present challenges in terms of convenience, it offers a much-needed safeguard against data breaches.
For health care executives, the message is clear: to increase adoption and trust in patient portals, prioritizing data security through advanced verification methods is not only essential but imperative. As the health care sector continues to embrace digital tools for patient engagement, ensuring that patients feel confident in the security of their personal health information will be key to driving wider portal usage and improving overall patient satisfaction.
Reference
Olson E. Data security concerns hamper patient portal uptake: survey. Healthcare Dive. Published May 29, 2025. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/confidence-data-security-patient-portal-use-lexisnexis-survey/749206/
