Study Finds Barriers to Doctors Adopting Electronic Communication Tools

While physician practices can use electronic communication to boost efficiency and patient satisfaction, barriers remain to widespread adoption of such technology, according to a Weill Cornell Medical College study published in the journal Health Affairs. Respondents cited several barriers to widespread adoption of electronic communication tools, including patients' resistance to embrace new technology, physicians' resistance to adding more tasks to their workload and the lack of a consistent payment model for health services rendered via such tools.

• "3 Reasons Docs Aren't Communicating Electronically With Patients" (Bowman, FierceHealthIT, 8/6).