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Clinical e-mail in an academic dermatology setting
Kevin F Kia1, Anna Tavakkoli, Charles N Ellis
1Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|May 23, 2006
Summary
Physician-to-patient email communication in dermatology effectively addresses clinical questions, particularly for established patients. However, a significant portion of email use involves non-clinical thank-you messages.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Medical Informatics
- Health Communication
Background:
- Physician-patient email use is hindered by concerns regarding medicolegal issues, reimbursement, and time management.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the specific content and utility of patient-related emails in academic dermatology practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the content of patient-related emails in an academic dermatology setting.
- To determine the feasibility of resolving clinical questions via email communication.
Main Methods:
- A review of 614 patient-related emails received between 2000 and 2005.
- Categorization of emails by content (clinical questions, appointments, referrals, etc.) and patient status (new vs. established).
- Assessment of whether clinical questions were answered via email and analysis of email thread length.
Main Results:
- Clinical questions constituted a significant portion of emails, with physicians posing more questions than patients.
- Email was effective in answering clinical questions, especially when initiated by physicians or concerning established patients.
- A substantial volume of email traffic consisted of non-clinical thank-you correspondence, impacting resource allocation.
Conclusions:
- Email enhances communication channels between patients and dermatologists, potentially improving physician consultations and chronic disease management.
- The significant use of email for thank-you messages warrants consideration for efficient practice management.
- Further research in diverse settings is needed to fully understand the scope and impact of email in patient care.