At the 'webside'

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Telemedicine adoption is increasing globally.
• Traditional medical training often lacks virtual patient interaction skills.
• Effective physician-patient communication is crucial for quality care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the necessity of specific training for physicians in telemedicine.
• To define the concept of 'webside manner' in virtual healthcare.
• To address the gap in current medical education regarding virtual visits.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on telemedicine best practices.
• Analysis of physician training programs.
• Qualitative assessment of virtual patient-physician interactions.

Main Results:

• Existing medical curricula are insufficient for telemedicine.
• Physicians require explicit instruction on virtual communication techniques.
• 'Webside manner' involves empathy, clarity, and technical proficiency in virtual settings.

Conclusions:

• Targeted training is essential for successful telemedicine integration.
• Developing a professional 'webside manner' enhances patient trust and outcomes.
• Medical institutions must adapt to include comprehensive telemedicine education.