The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants

Doctor-Patient Relations in the Modern Era

[By Mario Moussa PhD]

[By Jennifer Tomasik MS]

[By Dr. David E. Marcinko MBA]

www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com

When it comes to the doctor-patient relationship, Health 2.0 needs guidelines. Several leading health providers have begun to call for them. We think guidelines would, among other things, help define the right mix of virtual and live communication.

Our relationship strategies take a step in this direction. Such a framework can be used to start a productive dialogue among health providers about social media. A hospital committee or some other governing body could easily use Web 2.0 tools—a blog or a wiki—to start the discussion. Before long, there would be ample case material to flesh out general principles.

Health 2.0 Needs Guidelines

Guidelines would also address a big barrier to using Health 2.0: getting paid. Currently reimbursement policies do not cover electronic communication, so physicians have little financial incentive to use it. In a 2003 study, only 9% of physicians were willing to use e-mail to communicate with patients. This has something to do with old habits. But it has a lot to do with payment schedules, too. Guidelines should feature the research that shows the positive health outcomes of strong physician-patient relationships and how social media tools help build relationships. In today’s “pay for performance” market, these outcomes help build credibility for wired communication.

Training Support

We also think Health 2.0 guidelines need to be supported by training. Studies show that training in interviewing and interpersonal skills produces substantial differences in the quality of care. Training in Health 2.0 communication would likely have a similar impact.

Assessment

Paradoxically, as patients can access and control more data, they have a greater need for trusted physicians who communicate well using various mediums. As Ted Epperly, President of the American Academy of Family Physicians, has said, patients need “wise counsel” in sifting through the prodigious amounts of information available via Health 2.0. And physicians as well as patients need to learn how to navigate this environment. No longer the sole authoritative source of medical information, physicians need to adapt, becoming an experienced partner and guide for inquiring patients. Training can help doctors get comfortable in this new role.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com and http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Anderson, James G., Eysenbach, Gunther, and Rainey, Michelle R. “The Impact of CyberHealthcare on the Physician–Patient Relationship.” Journal of Medical Systems. 27 (2003): 67 – 84.

Kaplan, Sherrie H., Greenfield, Sheldon, Gandek, Barbara, et al. “Characteristics of physicians with participatory decision-making styles.” Annals of Internal Medicine. 124.5 (1996): 497–504

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Experts Invited, Op-Editorials, Quality Initiatives, Recommended Books, Research & Development | Tagged: American Academy of Family Physicians, bedside manner, health 2.0, Jennifer Tomasik, Mario Moussa PhD, Ted Epperly, www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com | 4 Comments »