The influence of information technology on patient-physician relationships

Abstract

Interpersonal relationships and information are intertwined as essential cornerstones of health care. Although information technology (IT) has done much to advance medicine, we are not even close to realizing its full potential. Indeed, issues related to mismanaging health information often undermine relationship-centered care. Information technology must be implemented in ways that preserve and uplift relationships in care, while accommodating major deficiencies in managing information and making medical decisions. Increased collaboration between experts in IT and relationship-centered care is needed, along with inclusion of relationship-based measures in informatics research.

FIGURE 1

Interplay between relationships and flow of information. Information is collected, stored, and processed before treatment. Some methods of collecting and processing clinical information can be performed without relationships. Capitalizing on these possibilities can create efficiencies and higher yields for relationship-centered care.

FIGURE 2

Theory of how medical training and practice influence relationships. Although low quality of patient-physician relationships may stem from inadequate empathy and communications skills, we postulate that medical training and practice has often led to this state, through introducing competing goals and fostering the mismanagement of health information.