A Preliminary Investigation into the Effects of Physician Email on Patient Perceived Quality of Care

Several studies suggest that patients want the ability to communicate electronically with their physicians and that electronic communication can facilitate patient-centered care. However, to date, despite patient demand and a myriad of possible benefits, most physicians have resisted providing this option. This work is a preliminary investigation into the effects of electronic physician-to-patient communication on the quality of patient care. The study uses secondary data from an online physician-rating site to compare the quality ratings of physicians, from every specialty, from the state of Illinois. Our results suggest that a doctor’s use of email increases patient perceptions of the quality of care they receive.