Technology Driving Changes
in Physician-Patient Relationships
New digital technologies are helping to transform traditional relationships between patients and their health care providers, HealthLeadersMedia reports.
Online Health Information
For example, more patients are starting to use the Internet as a major source for health information.
Almost three-quarters of U.S. adults have looked up health information online and about two-thirds do so regularly, according to HealthLeadersMedia.
This trend likely will continue to grow over time and gradually alter the way patients and physicians interact (Bakhtiari, HealthLeaders Media, 9/24).
Experts say online medical resources will help empower patients to take charge of their own health care and promote patient-physician collaboration.
Web-Based Communication
Patients also are starting to show more interest in communicating with their health care providers via e-mail, online chat sessions, remote monitoring tools and Web portals.
Although some health care providers are hesitant to use such tools because of misdiagnosis risks and privacy concerns, recent research shows that patients prefer physicians who use online communication channels.
A 2009 survey by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions found that about 55% of patients would like to e-mail with their physicians and about 68% are interested in remote monitoring devices. Meanwhile, about 78% of seniors and 75% of chronic disease patients said they are interested in remote monitoring.
Mobile Health Technologies
Mobile phone-based tools also could help alter the health care landscape by allowing clinicians to remotely transmit health data on various conditions and infectious diseases.
Consumers also can use mobile phones to monitor chronic conditions and send reports to their health care providers.
Electronic Health Records
Finally, experts say the patient of the future will expect health care providers to use electronic health records. Patients also are likely to demand access to their own EHRs.
In addition, empowered consumers likely will push for portable EHRs that can be easily shared with other physicians and health care facilities (Shaw, HealthLeaders Magazine, September 2009).