Certainly, email is more confidential. Patients feel the benefits far outweigh the concerns. Encryption minimizes some risks but is a double-edged sword. Although it keeps emails secure, it requires a Web forms-based email system, which may not be practical for small clinics that don't want to own a Web domain name, host a Web site, and buy or rent a secure server and the technical support to go with it. Clinics may instead want to focus on effective policies and tools for using regular email.
All medical centers have broad policies for sending information in writing, by phone or by fax.
Patient email also should be part of those policies. Currently physicians use email to perform routine tasks, like adjust prescriptions and schedules, and give general medical advice. In order for email to become a more integral component of physician offices, Rhie believes it's essential to integrate email into Web-enabled software that handles multiple office functions. The software automatically assigns email responsibilities to designated staff. Once you have a Web-enabled system in place, email becomes your friend.