Technology And Patient-Physician Relationship

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Emerging technology always has, both, positive and negative implications on society. In relation to the health field, we are seeing an alarming number of healthcare related websites surface on the Internet. These websites, such as WebMD and Mayo Clinic, provide information including symptoms and disease overviews. After reviewing Chapter 4, “How Medical Interaction Shapes and Reflects the Physician-Patient Relationship,” in our textbook The Rutledge Handbook of Health Communication, I realized that the section on new challenges was extremely applicable to the communication and interactions between physicians and patients. Technology and the Internet are largely impacting the patient-physician relationship through communication/interactions …show more content…

When a medical condition is extremely rare, there is the potential for the Internet to aid the patient in becoming more knowledgeable about their condition—potentially even more knowledgeable than their physician. With help from technology/the Internet, patients are becoming more well-informed about their health and are advocating for themselves by expressing their realistic concerns with their physicians. Knowledge is power and seeking knowledge about your own healthcare enables you to ask the deeper and more important questions of your physician. In summary, access to healthcare related information through advanced technologies such as the Internet enables the patient to feel as if they are on the same level of understanding as their physician, which therefore helps to eradicate feelings of inadequacy on the patient’s behalf. In turn, patients are able to share the knowledge the gathered and physicians can eliminate misconceptions/misunderstanding, while allowing for open communication between the patient and the provider. The Internet can have a positive impact on how people live their everyday lives, such as how much they exercise or the type of foods they eat. Another positive impact the Internet has on patient-physician communication is through the use of online based support groups where physicians and patients can interact and communicate

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