A national poll by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., reports that one-half of parents are interested in accomplishing administrative and clinical tasks through email or online, suggesting “ePediatrics” could become commonplace.
Knowledge Networks, Inc. conducted the poll in January 2010, asking 1,612 parents across the U.S. about their communication with their children’s healthcare providers. While half responded they favored electronic communication, less than 15% of parents reported that they currently do or are able to communicate in such a manner.
Questions about the security of email, an inability to be reimbursed for electronic services, and a perceived susceptibility to medical liability are possible reasons for many physicians’ reluctance to adopt more electronic services.
