By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    learn to recognize and treat yeast infections
    Most Commonly Asked Questions About Yeast Infections
    November 17, 2021
    Advanced lung cancer diagnosis systems used by doctors
    Advanced Lung Cancer Diagnosis Systems Used by Doctors
    March 6, 2022
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    June 13, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    drug discount cards
    Drug Discount Cards: Lifting the Veil of Secrecy
    August 28, 2013
    Ingredients of an Effective Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Be Sure to Add Health IT and Medical Device Innovation
    June 15, 2012
    alzheimer's gene
    Infants with Alzheimer’s Gene Already Show Brain Development Differences
    November 30, 2013
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: When Doctors Email: Concerns for Quality, Accuracy in Patient Communication
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > When Doctors Email: Concerns for Quality, Accuracy in Patient Communication
eHealthHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

When Doctors Email: Concerns for Quality, Accuracy in Patient Communication

Danny Lieberman
Danny Lieberman
Share
4 Min Read
doctors and email
SHARE

doctors and email

Contents
Security and Privacy of Patient InformationMiscommunication and LiabilityCompensation

Nearly 30 percent of doctors between 35 and 44 years old use email to communicate with their patients, according to a survey of U.S. doctors conducted earlier this year by Kantar Media. Email is a good option for healthcare providers to exchange information with patients, but there still are concerns about the practice.

doctors and email

Nearly 30 percent of doctors between 35 and 44 years old use email to communicate with their patients, according to a survey of U.S. doctors conducted earlier this year by Kantar Media. Email is a good option for healthcare providers to exchange information with patients, but there still are concerns about the practice.

More Read

What Steps Can Doctors Take to Boost Patient Loyalty?
Lab Results for All! Of Data Liberation, Participatory Medicine, and Government 2.0
Chilly Climates Ideal for Data Center Locations
HealthCare Social Media: What Makes Sense?
Infographic: Stats And Facts About Sleep That Everyone Should Know

Joshua Schwimmer, an M.D. with Healthline.com, blogged that the doctors who do email their patients are cautious to do so and the rest are slow to come on board. The major concerns include:

  • Privacy and security of patient information
  • Increased physician liability
  • Miscommunication of important information
  • Compensation for the time to email

Security and Privacy of Patient Information

HIPPA places strict controls on patient information, including digital forms. Password-protected systems are often used for emailing patient information, but some practitioners use smartphones, laptops and tablets that use unencrypted email applications. To be safe, only supported systems can be used for email. The risk of having unsecured communications tracked and captured is high.

For example: A doctor emails the lab results of a high-profile business executive. If intercepted, not only is patient privacy violated, but the patient’s business could be affected. If test results are leaked to the press, the rumor mill could begin in earnest and the company’s stock prices might be affected.

Miscommunication and Liability

Physicians are also concerned about miscommunication, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College found. Let’s say someone’s lab results are off by a decimal point due to a typing error. While this is an inconvenience requiring additional emails to be passed back and forth, the bigger concern is if the patient reacts to the information before the physician has the chance to get back to him or her with a correction.

Imagine an email being sent with the wrong lab data to a patient with diabetes. The recommendation is made to change the insulin dosage. There could be serious complications if the patient changes his insulin dose unnecessarily.

There are other solutions for communicating specific information that maintains accuracy. Laboratory reporting systems, medical coding and billing online systems and imaging databases all track patient information and check it for accuracy. Free-flowing emails are more challenging to keep error-free.

Another liability concern occurs when a patient expects information and doesn’t receive it. Physicians need a way to manage their email information so it is timely and accurate.

Compensation

Most insurance carriers don’t compensate doctors for time spent emailing patients. This is of concern for some medical practices where their doctors receive up to 50 patient emails a day. They see email as an option but don’t see it as taking priority over direct patient contact.

Those who remain resistant report they can see the benefit of email in activities such as scheduling and medication refills, but the amount of time it takes away from other important tasks and that they aren’t paid for their time keeps them from making email part of their professional toolbox.

(Doctors and emailing / shutterstock)

TAGGED:communicationemailPrivacy
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Drug Stores Better at Detecting Counterfeit Drugs than Government

May 26, 2012
Image
Policy & Law

Pregnancy and Autonomy – Just Whose Body is it Anyway?

June 18, 2012
Speaking Up for Patient Safety | Healthcare Career Resources Blog
Hospital AdministrationMedical Ethics

Speaking Up for Patient Safety

July 6, 2016
Health careSenior Care

Why We Need To Be More Open About End-of-Life Care

September 25, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?