Impact of Patient Portal-Based Self-Scheduling of Diagnostic Imaging Studies on Health Disparities
Authors: Smitha Ganeshan, Logan Pierce, Michelle Mourad, Timothy J. Judson, Marc D. Kohli, Anobel Y. Odisho, William Brown, III
Published: September 5, 2022
While many case studies have described the implementation of self-scheduling tools, which allow patients to schedule visits and imaging studies asynchronously online, none have explored the impact of self-scheduling on equitable access to care. Using an electronic health record patient portal, University of California San Francisco deployed a self-scheduling tool that allowed patients to self-schedule diagnostic imaging studies. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of a patient portal-based self-scheduling application for imaging studies on patient access and disparities.