News Release

E-mail Is A Powerful Tool In Doctor-Patient Relationship

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

(Email contact between doctor and patient)

Rapid communication is now available to patients and healthcare professionals via email, writes Dr Badal Pal in a personal view in this week's BMJ. Dr Pal says that with email, doctors can provide followup and continuity of care which is unavailable through other means. "They can clarify advice previously given and point patients to patient information materials and other resources available on the internet" he says and "..they can respond to more questions from patients in a shorter time."

The author concludes that despite some reservations from doctors that email would further increase their workload, there is great potential to allow email contact with patients under appropriate circumstances.

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Contact:

Dr. Badal Pal, Consultant Rheumatologist, Manchester bpal@fs1.with.man.ac.uk



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