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"We got mail": electronic communication between physicians and patients
C A Moyer1, D T Stern, S J Katz
1Consortium for Health Outcomes, Innovation, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies (CHOICES), University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
The American Journal of Managed Care
|November 7, 2000
Summary
Email communication between patients and healthcare providers offers significant potential for improving healthcare quality and efficiency, but its benefits are not yet fully realized. This article explores challenges, opportunities, and system enhancements for maximizing email
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Healthcare Communication
- Managed Care
Background:
- Electronic mail (email) presents a significant opportunity to enhance healthcare service delivery quality and efficiency.
- Despite widespread adoption, the full potential of patient-provider email communication remains largely untapped for patients, providers, and health plans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on email communication between patients and healthcare providers.
- To identify challenges and opportunities for managed care organizations seeking to leverage email effectively.
- To describe system components designed to improve clinical email use and discuss implications for managed care.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on patient-provider email communication.
- Analysis of challenges and opportunities for managed care organizations.
- Description of two systems for enhancing clinical email use.
Main Results:
- The study identifies key factors influencing the adoption and effectiveness of email in healthcare settings.
- Specific system components are detailed to facilitate enhanced patient-provider communication.
- Implications for managed care are discussed, highlighting potential benefits and considerations.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing email use in healthcare requires addressing identified challenges and capitalizing on opportunities.
- System enhancements can significantly improve the quality and efficiency of patient-provider electronic communication.
- Increased email utilization has notable implications for the future of managed care delivery.