Electronic Patient-Physician Communication: Problems and Promise

摘要: A critical mass of Internet users will soon enable wide diffusion electronic communication within medical practice. E-mail between physicians and patients offers important opportunities for better communication. Linking through e-mail may increase the involvement in supervising documenting their own health care, processes that activate contribute to improved health. These new linkages have profound implications patient-physician relationship. Although federal government proposes regulation telemedicine technologies software, communications are evolving under less scrutiny. Unless these implemented with substantial forethought, they disturb delicate balances relationship, widen social disparities outcomes, create barriers access care. This paper seeks identify promise pitfalls before such technology becomes widely distributed. research agenda is proposed would provide data useful careful shaping infrastructure. The addresses need 1) define appropriate use various modes communication, 2) ensure security confidentiality patient information, 3) user interfaces guide effective technology, 4) proactively assess medicolegal liability, 5) by a multicultural, multilingual population varying degrees literacy.