The Unified Digital Front Door and Patient Engagement
Ambulatory EHRs in 2026 serve as the primary bridge between the clinic and the patient's home.
The Patient Portal is no longer a separate add-on but a core component of the "Digital Front Door."
Self-Service Logistics: Patients use the portal for online scheduling, digital check-in (reducing waiting room time), and secure messaging with their care team.
Health Transparency: In compliance with "Open Notes" mandates, patients have immediate access to their lab results, physician notes, and immunization records.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): For chronic disease management, the ambulatory EHR pulls data from consumer wearables (Apple Watch, Oura Ring) and medical-grade devices (cellular-linked scales or BP cuffs), alerting the clinic if a patient’s vitals trend into a danger zone.
