Kreuziger’s experience is shared by most Americans: They want the convenience of e-mail for non-urgent medical issues, but fewer than a third of U.S. doctors use e-mail to communicate with patients, according to recent physician surveys.

“People are able to file their taxes online, buy and sell household goods, and manage their financial accounts,” said Susannah Fox of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. “The health care industry seems to be lagging behind other industries.”

That, from this story. Commentary here.

The blame can’t be placed entirely on physicians. The fact that we don’t pay them for a much less expensive patient encounter (even preventive in nature, depending on how you want to look at it) is completely arcane.

“Medicine is very conservative. It changes slowly.”

Too slowly.

This entry is filed under Not Problems but Opportunities.