title: "We got mail": electronic communication between physicians and patients.
abstract: E-mail has the potential to improve both the quality and efficiency of healthcare service delivery. Despite the substantial growth of this form of communication over the past decade, its promise to patients, providers, and their health plans remains largely untapped. In this article we (1) review the literature on e-mail use between patients and providers; (2) identify challenges and opportunities facing managed care organizations that wish to maximize the potential of this form of communication; (3) describe the components of 2 systems aimed at enhancing e-mail use in clinical settings; and (4) discuss the implications of increased e-mail use for managed care.
authors.affiliation: Consortium for Health Outcomes, Innovation, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies (CHOICES), University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moyer
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fendrick
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States