Doctors complain they do not have enough time. Patients complain about difficulty of access to GP services. E-mail has transformed information exchange in education, business and leisure activity and has enormous potential for efficiency savings within the health service. Healthcare professionals have been reluctant to use e-mail to communicate with their patients because of technical barriers, fear of a new communication medium, and perceived fears about confidentiality and litigation issues. Most e-mail enquiries from patients can be handled in less than 2 minutes. This article reviews the opportunities and pitfalls of using e-mail consultations to meet patient demand while saving doctors' time.
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