subject: Improving the Patient-Doctor Relationship [print this page] Improving the Patient-Doctor Relationship
Americans are increasingly turning to the Internet for health related information, especially when searching for a physician or other health care specialist. According a recent Harris Poll 150 million people web users in the US have seeked health information on-line. (Krane D. The Harris Poll, July 28, 2005; http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/healthnews/HI_HealthCareNews2005Vol5_Iss08.pdf.) Web health seekers'' (i.e. individuals accessing sites pertaining to diseases, medical treatment, and other health related topics) use Web information to: (1) change their decision about how to treat their illness (70%), (2) lead them to ask new questions or obtain a second opinion from another doctor (50%), (3) influence their decision whether or not to visit a doctor (28%), and (4) improve the way they take care of themselves (48%) [15].The greater consumers access to health information, technologic advances and on-line social networking has, in no small part, altered the traditional patient doctor roles and shifted health care be more consumer-driven. Technology and innovation has made possible additional avenues for communication that can enhance relationships and lead to better health outcomes. Not only is it prudent to understand the relationship between health and the internet but it is becoming the standard.
Even the government is mandating the use of electronic medical records by 2014.
According to the 2006 Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Poll, over half of adult Americans believed that that their choice of doctor would be influenced by whether that doctor offered some form of electronic communication. When given a choice between a doctor who uses email to communicate directly with them or a family member, 62% said if would influence their choice a great deal. Seventy seven percent would like reminders via email from their doctors when due for a visit or for other medical care, 75% would like to schedule a visit over the internet, 74% would like to use email to communicate directly with their doctor and 62% would like to receive test results via email. Though, 62% said that the use of electronic records makes it more difficult to ensure patient privacy. Therefore, offering a secure means for on-line communication, appointment booking and access to and participation in personal health records, a physician could find themselves at a significant advantage.
In a survey of, , in , 62% of American's said doctors who use e-mail would influence their choice of doctors. patients said they want their doctor to use e-mail but 75% say that their doctor does not currently use it only a of doctors use e-mail to interface with their patients.
Why are physicians behind the 8-ball in e-communication?
AMA survey
doctors had concerns about PHR's
1. they don't trust the info contained within especially those put in by and controlled by the patient (I say but good for self-efficacy)
Physician adoption of PHR 15% (not any more now ~40%
Why to list fee-for svc- article about guys who started his own etc.
How to get e-visits paid for i.e. needs to have diagnosis and time spent
What can you do to change this?
Tools for docs
1. patient satisfaction tool
What tools are available to you and your practice?
EMRs discount by govt
E-prescribing Alscripts gvt
DocMatcher
Recruiting and keeping your patients is important for maintaining the health of your practice. A 2009 survey of member physicians by the American Academy of Family Practitioners regarding patient care during current recession revealed that over half (54%) of respondents reported seeing fewer patients since the start of the recession. 58% reported an increase in appointment cancellations and 71% provided uncompensated health care during the past few months. 60% reported an increase in their patients health problems causes by their forgoing needed preventive care.
This survey is evidence that patients health outcomes are being affected as well as physician practices. Physicians can not provide comprehensive care if they are unable to maintain a viable practice. Making a concerted effort to recruit new patients and keep current patients is important for the health of your practice and for essential for patients seeking care.
Although patients are far more informed than they were even 20 or 30 years ago, some people express frustration and dissatisfaction with their care because they do not feel like they have adequate (if any) input into the decisions that clinicians are making about their health and their lives. One element of this problem is that patients often do not know enough about their treatment options to make informed decisions. In particular, they may not understand the evidence base underlying the decisions they are being offered.
Another contributing factor is that providers are not always supportive of patient involvement in the decision-making process. In some cases, clinicians are supportive of the concept but do not know how to make it happen.
Complicating the decision-making process is the fact that decisions related to preventive testing, diagnostic work-ups, and treatment options are often driven by physicians' preferences (which may be shaped by medical training, local norms, or personal experience) rather than scientific evidence. The resulting variations in care across the country are tremendous and well-documented. (For evidence of geographic variations, see the Dartmouth Atlas at http://www.dartmouthatlas.org/.) However, the only preference driving variations should be that of the patient. This is a core principle behind shared decision-making.
