Press Releases: National
June 9, 2005
Kaiser Permanente Research: Computers In Exam Room Help Patient And Doctor Communicate
Patients’ satisfaction with doctors’ care higher after introduction of computers
OAKLAND, Calif. and Portland, Ore. – Researchers with Kaiser Permanente find patients are more satisfied with their care and communicate better with their doctors when computers are available in examination rooms. The study is published in the June 6 th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Compared with visits prior to installation of the computer, overall patient satisfaction, communication about medical issues, and patient understanding about their condition all improved after the computer introduction. Patients also felt that their doctors were more familiar with their personal medical history and their lives.
"Patients were more satisfied with their doctors after computers were installed in exam rooms," says lead author John Hsu, MD, of Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland , California . "The patients felt their doctor was more familiar with their medical history. Patients also felt more involved in decisions about their care and had a better understanding of diagnoses and treatments."
Dr. Hsu and his colleagues in Kaiser Permanente’s Northwest region conducted a longitudinal study of 313 patients and their 8 physicians, including clinic visits before computers were available in the exam room, and visits one month and seven months after the introduction.
After the introduction of computers:
- 63% of patients reported excellent overall satisfaction, from 55%
- 61% reported excellent satisfaction with discussions about their treatments, from 47%
- 57% reported excellent understanding of their treatments, from 46%
- 59% reported their doctor’s being very familiar with their lives, from 48%
- 50% reported their doctor’s being very familiar with their medical history, from 42%
"When a physician is familiar with computers, and uses the technology to share information with patients, the doctor-patient relationship improves in many ways," says Dr. Hsu. "Patients feel more involved, understand their diagnoses better, and are happier with their care."
The study used questionnaires filled out by both the patient and the physician at three different visits to evaluate what effect a computer terminal might have when the physician uses it during an exam.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
