Physician use of e-mail: the telephone of the 21st century?

E-mail, as an element of a physician's clinical practice, can provide the means to accomplish a variety of tasks more effectively and more efficiently, increasing patients' involvement in their care and optimizing face-to-face office time. Concerns about billing, improper use, privacy, and confidentiality have complicated its introduction and acceptance. This article discusses guidelines proposed for clinical use of e-mail and barriers that will need to be overcome to move this mode of patient-physician communication into the mainstream.