Question

Discuss the different means that physicians have to communicate with patients electronically today. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages. Discuss the gap between what the patient wants and what the physician is willing or able to provide.

Answer 1

Electronical communication devices have become an easy and popular way to communicate now a days. Patient - doctor may communicate with each other through following means :

1. Emails

2. Web portals created by the institutions for patient do tor communication

3. Instant messaging

4. Phone calls

5. Video chats

6. Social networking

Advantages of electronical communication :

1. Patient doctor can communicate with each other even if they are far away and cannot meet each other due to some reasons.

2. Patients who do not have access to the doctors can communicate with them over phone or bideo chats and take medical advices.

3. Patient can upload his tests results and other medical information on web portals or emails for doctors to see and would not need to come in person.

4. Healthcare providers can upload results of diagnostic tests on their web portals or emails and patient need not to come in person to collect them.

Disadvatages :

1. Privacy is not guaranteed over emails and text messages.

2. These messages and texts are not encrypted and thus leak of data and private information is a threat.

3. The physician might not feel comfortable over phone as he does not know whim he is communicating with.

4. The time schedule may be concern for some doctors. They might not get enough time to tske the cslls and messages and it might interferre with their personal time.

5. Their is a potential threat of misunderstanding the information both on patient as well as physician side.

Sometimes a gap may form between patients needs and physicians services. The patient might not be satisfied with what he is getting. These kinds of problems mainly arises due to hinderance between patient physician communication. The patient might not be able to provide full history or hide some details from doctor which might lead to wrong diagnosis. Patient sometimes might not be able understand the medical terminologies used. Following things can bridge the communication gaps between doctor parient :

• Physician should provide enough time to patient to explain his problems
• Physician should be attentive to patient problem
• Physician should maintain eye contact with the patient
• Physician should make the patient comfortable and the environment should be calm and soothing within minimum disturbance.
• Patient should provide full medical history and not hide information from doctor
• Physician should make the patient understand about his condition, diagnostic and treatment in simple common language