Patients also have access to the physician's personal Web page to schedule appointments and request prescription refills. Surgeons, in particular, may benefit from using interactive multimedia programs to teach patients about their condition, treatment and recovery. X-Plain uses illustration, animation and narration to explain the risks and benefits of the upcoming surgery, as well as preoperative and postdischarge instructions. The interactive programs ask questions testing comprehension, give feedback and let users print handouts. Many malpractice insurance companies offer discounts to providers who use informed consent software.
Claims often arise because of a misunderstanding of what happened.
Another area of patient education is managing complex chronic diseases, such as lupus, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis. Accordant Health Services, Greensboro, N.C., focuses on 14 complex chronic diseases. The goal is to promote education and support, says Richard Hodach, M.D., Ph.D., medical director for Internet services at Accordant. Patients can search for information about their condition, call a nurse 24 hours a day, participate in moderated online chats with specialists, view online audio and slide presentations from guest speakers, and ask experts questions. This appears to be an emerging trend, particularly in pediatrics.