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The telephone in family practice
South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde
|February 26, 1983
Summary
Family practices spend significant time on the phone, with 35.8% of patient contact and 12.3% of total practice time occurring via telephone. This highlights the importance of telephone medicine for further cost-effectiveness evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Family medicine
- Healthcare management
- Telehealth
Background:
- The telephone is a crucial communication tool in family practice.
- Previous research suggests 'telephone medicine' warrants cost-effectiveness analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of telephone use in family practice.
- To assess the significance of telephone-based patient contact and practice time.
- To consider the implications of telephone medicine on the doctor-patient relationship.
Main Methods:
- A time-and-motion study was conducted in a family practice setting.
- Data collected focused on patient contact methods and time allocation.
Main Results:
- Telephone contact accounted for 35.8% of all patient interactions.
- 12.3% of total practice time was dedicated to telephone communication.
Conclusions:
- Telephone communication is a vital component of family practice operations.
- The findings support further investigation into the cost-effectiveness of 'telephone medicine'.
- The impact of telephone use on the doctor-patient relationship requires consideration.