Electronic Communication Strategies and Patient Privacy and Confidentiality Protection

Electronic Communication Strategies and Patient Privacy and Confidentiality Protection
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Institution
Electronic Communication Strategies and Patient Privacy and Confidentiality Protection
Effective communication strategies are the key to ensuring that patients’ needs are met. Development in technology has facilitated the development of electronic communication tools that health organizations can utilize to promote effective communication strategies. According to Hogan, et al. (2018), electronic communication tools strengthen the relationship between the patient and their provider and also ensure that patients have access to health information. This has facilitated patient-centeredness across many healthcare organizations. Where I work, we use patient-portal, email, chat applications, and links to communicate effectively with our patients. Patient-portal is the most widely used strategy, and this usage can be attributed to the benefits associated with it. For instance, as Eschler, Meas, Lozano, McClure, Ralston, and Pratt (2016) reveal, patient-portals allow healthcare providers to individualize notifications and reminders to patients, especially in cases that require complex medication and regular visits to a healthcare provider. This has been the case at our organization and it has allowed us to remind even the geriatric patients about their drug dosage and the day and time of their next clinic visit. The use of emails as a communication strategy has also been linked with improved self-management of chronic diseases, as well as with effective exchange of health information that is classified as non-urgent (Hogan, et al., 2018). As a result, the number of outpatient visits has reduced drastically across many healthcare organizations, including where I work. Through these interactive, electronic communication strategies, we have been able to provide our patients with information while they are in the comfort of their homes. Without such strategies, patients would have been forced to visit our facility in person to make inquiries and access relevant information.
While electronic comm...