Emails improve doctor-patient communication by providing clear instructions, educational resources, and a written record, enhancing convenience and satisfaction for both parties. However, in-person evaluations remain essential for assessing patient health and responses. Despite differing opinions among doctors, studies indicate that emails offer a standardized and accessible medium that benefits both clinic management and quality of care.

1. Plus91 Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Adding Value to Healthcare
How Emails help improve Doctor Patient Communication

2. Emails between Doctors and Patients
• Email messages can allow for clear
instructions post a clinic visit, eliminating or
correcting misunderstandings about
treatment plans.
• Emails can also include helpful educational
information for patients and links to other
resources.
• They create a written record that can be
useful for the doctor to refer back to.

3. However …
• Not every communication between a doctor
and patient is best done by email.
• Doctors need to see patients in person to
accurately gauge the patient's health and
determine if a plan of care is being followed or
whether changes in care are needed.
• But …there are plenty of interactions that
don't require face-to-face communication and
that can be more effective via email.

4. One Doctor’s Opinion
• “In my own experience, making myself
available via email gives my patients a sense
of direct access to me. It sends a message that
I care and that I'm available to answer
questions in a timely manner. It builds a bond
between us that has tangible benefits for my
patients' health .” – Dr. Joseph C. Kvedar
(http://on.wsj.com/wXs3Ny)

5. Another Doctor’s Opinion
• “Emails are no way to practice medicine.
Providing care includes an ability to interpret
body language, facial expressions and other
silent forms of communication that allow
doctors to assess patient reactions to
information about their health and the
accuracy of their responses to questions. Email
communications eliminate the ability to
interpret these important signals” - Dr. Sam
Bierstock (http://on.wsj.com/wXs3Ny)

6. What Studies Say?
• A 2005 study found that E-mails were found to
be a more convenient form of communication.
• Satisfaction of both patients and physicians
improves when communicating via e-mails.
• The volume of messages and the time spent
answering messages if using e-mails does not
increase
• Improves the doctor-patient relationship
• Sources: http://1.usa.gov/MKUvj5 and
http://bit.ly/KUjRv1

7. Patient Satisfaction Results
Patient Convenience Time Spent to Access Doctor
Sources: http://1.usa.gov/MKUvj5 and http://bit.ly/KUjRv1

8. Most People(Patients) are using E-mails
• E-mail is a widely used form of communication
across a majority of India’s population
• A 2012 study found emails to be the most
preferred form of online communication
69% Internet users
India 4th in number
are from non-metro
of internet users
cities.
51 % are salaried
91% uses internet
employees in
for Email
corporate houses.

9. Email Usage among Physicians Increasing

10. Why are emails a good choice for Doctors
• Proven Standardized Technology
• Makes doctors more accessible
• Allows a more thorough exchange of information
• Creates a Written Record of your communication
• Allows attachments of different document types
of varying sizes: forms, help sheets, patient
records, images, lab results and more
• Minimal Disturbance in your work-flow
• You can access email from almost anywhere(with
mobile technology)
• Builds Trust!!!

11. How can Emails be used by Clinics/Doctors?

12. How Emails Improve Clinic Management?
• Reduce unnecessary calls for appointments
, address queries and more.
• Reduce unnecessary visits for patients - For
report collection, prescription repeats, etc.
• Reduce unnecessary Paper work- Sending record
via secure email eliminates the need of
maintaining multiple paper records
• Emails can be used to widely spread clinic related
offers, forms and flyers related to various health
check plans & services available at the clinic

13. How Emails Improve Quality of Care?
• Emails are a Responsive Technique to
communicate between Patients and Doctors
• Improves the ability of doctors and patients to
share information with each other.
• Allows the creation of a Well documented
Communication Record
• Improves Patient adherence
• Online record –Email gives faster access to
patient information
• Increases Patient Satisfaction

14. Information Best shared via emails
• Appointment and Medication Reminders
• Detailed Guidelines on Prescription/
Medication
• Patient Education Links, Flyers and related
information on Procedures and Treatments
• Guidebooks and links on side effects
• Forms, Bills and Administrative Documents
• Preventive Care Methods, Diet
Charts, Exercise Routines, etc.

15. Potential Benefits for Patients

16. How Patients Benefit?
• Patients can use a regularly used communication
mechanism for health.
• Use of a popular medium improves self care ,
monitoring and medication adherence
• Linkage with EMRs and PHR’s ensure easy
availability of more comprehensive Health Data
• Saves time spent on visits for report collections
and simpler queries.
• Improved patient satisfaction builds loyalty and
eventually improves health
• Enables physically disabled patients at remote
location to have detailed discussion.

17. Useful Reads
• http://www.massmed.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/ContinuingEducatio
nEvents/NewCourses/EmailingPatientsWithoutWorryingAboutLiability/Do
ctorpatientemailinpractice/DoctorPatientEmail.htm
• http://www.scoop.it/t/healthcare-technology?q=email
• http://security.stackexchange.com/questions/14383/is-encrypted-email-
doctor-patient-communication-required-by-hipaa-hitech-or-mea
• http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_0
21588.hcsp?dDocName=bok1_021588
• http://www.tmlt.org/newscenter/features/patient_email.html
• http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok2_0
00472.hcsp?dDocName=bok2_000472

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