Shared Online Health Records for Patient Safety and Care

During the first phase of the study, primary care practice patients continue to receive
“usual care” while their physician’s offices are using Patient Gateway, an Internet portal
offering secure messaging, common requests, chart information, and health information that
has already been developed. Also in this first phase, all patients using Patient Gateway
will receive an electronic letter explaining the research study and a link to an electronic
consent form. In addition to recruitment of subjects, phase 1 allows for baseline data to be
collected.

In the second phase, study clinics will be randomized into one of two intervention “arms”.
Study subjects whose clinics are randomized into Arm 1 will be invited to review and comment
on their medication, allergy, and diabetes information through Patient Gateway; they can
then submit this information to their primary care physician for review. Those randomized
into Arm 2 will report on their health maintenance status and family history and submit this
information to their primary care physician through Patient Gateway prior to a scheduled
visit. Chart reviews performed at the end of Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be conducted to
identify differences in process measures and outcome measures between intervention and
control groups.

In addition, a medication phone survey sub-study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of
the new Patient Gateway features on medication management.

Inclusion Criteria:

- All patients, who are enrolled in Patient Gateway, of physicians and practices
participating in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any patients who are not enrolled in Patient Gateway or do not belong to a
participating practice.