Comments on: Article: Interest in the Use of Computerized Patient Portals: Role of the Provider–Patient Relationship http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622 e-Health. Patient empowerment. Washington, DC. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:16:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Now Reading: A Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor, by John Berger | Ted Eytan, MD http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622#comment-768 Now Reading: A Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor, by John Berger | Ted Eytan, MD Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:00:21 +0000 http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622#comment-768 [...] a bit of a suggestible reader these days. I learned of this book from one of the comments on the PCHIT blog that I maintain. If you look at the comment and my interests (patient-physician communication, primary care, [...] [...] a bit of a suggestible reader these days. I learned of this book from one of the comments on the PCHIT blog that I maintain. If you look at the comment and my interests (patient-physician communication, primary care, [...]

]]> By: Ted Eytan http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622#comment-767 Ted Eytan Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:27:34 +0000 http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622#comment-767 Amy, Thank you for the recommendation for John Berger's book (I'm working to get it from my library now) - it's a great one for someone like me because the exploration of the tool quickly turns into an exploration of the way we carry ourselves as a profession. How did we get here and how can we do better? This is what was behind some of my questions above - what is communication like within the practices studied? At the same time I appreciate the effort to publish the patients' true care experiences, especially in an industry where transparency is still at a premium. The PHR is often the trojan horse for the bigger conversation that you are talking about; I like that part. Thanks for the great comment, Ted Amy,

Thank you for the recommendation for John Berger’s book (I’m working to get it from my library now) - it’s a great one for someone like me because the exploration of the tool quickly turns into an exploration of the way we carry ourselves as a profession. How did we get here and how can we do better? This is what was behind some of my questions above - what is communication like within the practices studied?

At the same time I appreciate the effort to publish the patients’ true care experiences, especially in an industry where transparency is still at a premium. The PHR is often the trojan horse for the bigger conversation that you are talking about; I like that part.

Thanks for the great comment,

Ted

]]> By: Amy J. Neil, MS, MAP http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622#comment-766 Amy J. Neil, MS, MAP Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:01:15 +0000 http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/01/11/622#comment-766 The underlying issue within this and other studies, from my perspective, is not the technology involved, but the facilitation of effective communication among patients and providers. As one of the patients in your posting commented, this technology and, indeed, all patient 'education' intiatives (including printed pieces) are simply TOOLS to facilitate communication among providers and patients. Thus, the conclusion drawn in this study is not surprising: the patients using the portal were those who experienced poor in-person communication with their clinicians and turned to another vehicle in order to establish communication. Those who were satisfied with their in-person communication with providers had less need to communicate via other vehicles. Listening to patients is and always has been imperative. It is called 'phenomenology' in some professions -- that is, the patients' words reveal very important information about their experience -- and this is equally important as information obtained through clinical analysis/diagnosis. John Berger's "A Fortunate Man" expresses this concept, beautifully. The underlying issue within this and other studies, from my perspective, is not the technology involved, but the facilitation of effective communication among patients and providers. As one of the patients in your posting commented, this technology and, indeed, all patient ‘education’ intiatives (including printed pieces) are simply TOOLS to facilitate communication among providers and patients. Thus, the conclusion drawn in this study is not surprising: the patients using the portal were those who experienced poor in-person communication with their clinicians and turned to another vehicle in order to establish communication. Those who were satisfied with their in-person communication with providers had less need to communicate via other vehicles.
Listening to patients is and always has been imperative. It is called ‘phenomenology’ in some professions — that is, the patients’ words reveal very important information about their experience — and this is equally important as information obtained through clinical analysis/diagnosis. John Berger’s “A Fortunate Man” expresses this concept, beautifully.

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