Answer

Evaluation on the Use of E-Mail among Healthcare Providers and their Patients

            E-mail communication between patients and healthcare providers is not uncommon nowadays. If fact, it is becoming the most preferred method of communication by patients since its is less intimidating unlike face-to-face interviews (Burk & Weill, 2019). E-mail is a communication platform that must be embraced by healthcare providers and patients alike.

            Patients find it easy to ask sensitive questions via email communication than they could not otherwise ask in face-to-face communications. E-mailing ought to be used with established patients and communication be made via email only with patient consent to avoid malpractice lawsuits. Patients can comfortably receive their healthcare-related information as well as medical advice and/or counselling via email at the comfort of their homes. It has been shown that the more the patients receive their healthcare information via email the more they improve in terms of healthcare outcomes (Burk & Weill, 2019).

E-mail communication has some drawbacks, though. Physicians are concerned about the time it takes to read and respond to individual patient’s emails. It may take 4 minutes to read and respond to emails. E-mail communication is associated with privacy and confidentiality challenges. Physicians are concerned on the liability of exchanging information with patients via email, slowness of email compared to face-to-face conversations, and the possibility of misunderstanding (Burk & Weill, 2019).

In conclusion, it is evident to note that email is an important communication platform to be utilized by healthcare providers and patients. The technology has the potential of improving patient outcomes. Patients find it most comfortable form of communication for sharing sensitive information with their physicians. E-mail communication has some drawbacks such as privacy and confidentiality challenges.