title: Web Applications for Patient Communication.
abstract: Communication between imaging professionals and patients can help achieve many goals, including improved patient understanding of imaging-related diagnostic and treatment options, better compliance with appropriate imaging screening procedures, and improved efficiency of service. The explosive growth of out-of-pocket consumer spending on health care has heightened health care shopping, thus making patient communication an important goal of any imaging practice or health care organization. Furthermore, the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System introduced by CMS will publicly disclose physicians' quality ratings, which are in part dependent on patient engagement. The authors summarize the rationale for web communication with patients, the range of content that should be considered, and the technology options. The aim is to help imaging providers develop organized patient communication strategic and implementation plans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Kristopher
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Merge Healthcare, San Diego, California. Electronic address: mreicher@us.ibm.com.
authors.forename: Murray A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reicher
mesh_terms: D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration; D034742:Electronic Mail; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009862:Online Systems; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D000072638:Patient Portals; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D000072177:Radiologists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012984:Software; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Patient; apps; direct patient communication; web applications