Online resources that save time and provide education for patients?

Link: Info Surge

I have written about the benefits for a Physician's practice moving from paper to electronic records, but what about the needs of Patients? How can physicians provide the right amount of information to their patients about procedures, diagnostics, or other tests that also educates on the risks and benefits? Seems there may be opportunities, but only in short conversations between patient and provider.

According to recent reports, the general population is seeking education about their health conditions online. Unfortunately for many, the information they receive may be inaccurate, since there are few reliable Internet sources (e.g. Mayo Clinic, WebMD, etc.). So, information received via online search may not be complete, or reliable.

I recently met a colleague via Linked In - the social networking platform - who told me about the opportunities for physicians to provide online health education for patients with their system. She provided me with access to a demo video. As I watched the video, I thought about a patient's need to understand implications for procedures, and a provider's need to help their patients understand risks and benefits in order to get the needed "informed" consent. Too often, there is little time to provide the right amount of information.

I expect that with renewed interest in enabling technologies on "the cloud" (e.g. Internet), there will be future educational opportunities for patients as well as their providers (maybe online CEs?). Also consider this ... what if a Provider had a website with a patient portal that contained not only their health records, appointment scheduling, refill requests, etc. but also a "library" of educational videos on topics and health conditions for their patients? I think it is an interesting idea.

Comments

[celebrity picture]

Thanks for the info...Useful indeed

[celebrity]

The doctor-Patient relationship is one of absolute trust. True, it is better the patient knows what he is stepping into and the doctor knows what is he embarking on. But could we cut these aspects to precise scientific terms?. It is the turst that overrides all other considerations. So something has to be done in the direction of strengthening the mutual trust. A surgical procedure or treatment of an ailment cannot be seen simply as an ordinary commercial transaction.

[celebrity]

Good...It is nice that the patient knows what ails him, what remedies are avialable and possible riks thereon etc. But is it necessary that he should be told the possible eventualities too? Isn't it better that certain crucial info is shared only with the patient"s relatives or family. Do we have to be 'book-thorough'in everything we do?