This is according to Jack Cochran, MD, executive director of the Permanente Federation, the national umbrella organization for the regional Permanente Medical Groups. He says Kaiser Permanente has taken a leading-edge approach to what he views as “new world” work.

More than 3 million Kaiser Permanente members are using the Kaiser personal health record, My Health Manager. The PHR allows members to securely access their personal health data from home, as well as e-mail their physicians, order prescriptions, make, change and cancel appointments for themselves or for family members, and view lab results.

Last year, 8,641,703 Kaiser Permanente members sent secure messages to their doctors and other care team members.

Cochran says technology is helping patients “escape the limitations of a visit.” Although, it may not save the physician a considerable amount of time, for the patient who has to arrange time off work, childcare etc., the savings could be much more beneficial, he said.

When new information technology is rolled out at a practice it’s the physician’s role to show  “unequivocally” why it is important to their patients, said Cochran. 

“The doctor's role is to reinforce the information the members receive and to demonstrate enthusiasm for the ways that the computer will enhance care,” said Terry Stein, MD, director, clinician-patient communication, The Permanente Medical Group.

Michael D. Chase, MD, associate medical director of quality, Colorado Permanente Medical Group, says it is important for clinicians to think about how they will use the data, generated by the new technology, to change the long-term relationship with their patients.

“Over time we have leveraged EHRs and our information systems to be able to more effectively deliver prevention to patients, take care of chronic illnesses and have alerts and reminders for patient safety,” said Chase.
Cochran says physicians can use technology to create a “continuous healing relationship” with their patients.

"The physician-patient relationship has evolved to the point where the patient is no longer merely a layperson in a lecture, but rather a solid part of an engaging two-way discussion,” said Erika S. Fishman, director of research at New York-based Manhattan Research.