FROM THE FOUNDATION

Clarifying Rules for Sharing Lab Results

The electronic sharing of laboratory results between providers, patients, and others is guided by numerous federal and state laws. This paper looks at the pertinent rules and identifies opportunities for review and revision.

Store-and-Forward Teledermatology Facts

Dermatologists can serve many more patients by making use of store-and-forward teledermatology systems. This CHCF paper looks at criteria for evaluating these systems, and gives a comparative overview of four available applications.

Clinics Collaborate on EHR Deployment

EHRs can help California's safety-net clinic patients, and collaboration between clinics can significantly smooth the way to successful adoption. This issue brief looks at the lessons learned by eight clinic networks.

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April 02, 2007 - Topic: Consumer Information

Cancer Patients' Use of Online Information Boosts Trust in Physicians

Searching online for breast cancer information is not only educational, but also can enhance patients' opinions about their physicians, according to a new study in the International Journal of Medical Informatics, HealthDay/Washington Post reports.

The study, by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Excellence in Cancer Communications Research, found that frequent use of online information services initially was associated with a poor doctor-patient relationship, but patients later became more satisfied with their physicians.

The researchers tracked the opinions of 231 patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer who were provided with a computer and Internet access at no cost. The women also were taught how to use an online health education and support system, called Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System "Living With Breast Cancer" program.

The study indicates "that providing patients with access to high-quality health information about breast cancer and its related concerns may validate some of what they hear from their health care team and how they feel about their doctors," Bret Shaw, study author and an associate scientist with the CHESS program, said.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (HealthDay/Washington Post, 3/30).


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