Quality Tool Blog 8

The Digital Divide: What can Physicians Do to Bridge the Gap?

I thought this was a neat quality tool to help physician bridge that gap between the digital divide that they face in today's society. I know how it to is to use dial-up Internet. It's not fun. The area I live in was recently eligible for high speed Internet. When it comes to doing homework I feel like I'm in heaven now because I can submit my homework from home in 30 seconds opposed to 30 minutes. The world of health care is even a much more critical area and some patient are still on the bad side of this digital divide.This video discussed the many issues concerning patients that do not have good Internet access to be able to research and gain knowledge of their diseases. This video informs physicians of the necessity of thoroughly explain to patients every issue concerning this or her disease . With out Internet access, they are unable to research on their own. The other topics discussed in the video are listed below.
*The Internet explosion
*Pew Internet use survey results
*How consumerism has changed the
*doctor-patient relationship
*Patients' inability and reluctance to
*use the Internet as a resource
*Definition of Digital Divide
*Barriers to access
*Connectivity
*Availability
*Accessibility of information
*Who is affected?
*Increasing Internet usage
*Factors in the Digital Divide
*Relevance for physicians
*What physicians can do
*Alternative approaches

http://www.bigshouldersdubs.com/clients/ama/09_DigitalDivide.htm