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Managing Psychiatrist-Patient Relationships in the Digital Age: a Summary Review of the Impact of Technology-enabled Care on Clinical Processes and Rapport

  • Psychiatry in the Digital Age (J Shore, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Participatory medicine and the availability of commercial technologies have given patients more options to view and track their health information and to communicate with their providers. This shift in the clinical process may be of particular importance in mental healthcare where rapport plays a significant role in the therapeutic process.

Recent Findings

In this review, we examined literature related to the impact of technology on the clinical workflow and patient-provider rapport in the mental health field between January 2014 and June 2017. Thirty three relevant articles, of 226 identified articles, were summarized. The use of technology clinically has evolved from making care more accessible and efficient to leveraging technology to improve care, communication, and patient-provider rapport.

Summary

Evidence exists demonstrating that information and communication technologies may improve care by better connecting patients and providers and by improving patient-provider rapport, although further research is needed.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to UC Davis Department of Psychiatry, the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, the UCSF Division of Hospital Medicine, and the University of California Davis, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Michelle Burke Parish, Steven Chan & Peter M. Yellowlees

  2. Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California Davis, 2570 48th St, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Michelle Burke Parish & Sarina Fazio

  3. Division of Hospital Medicine, Clinical Informatics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Steven Chan

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Steven Chan

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  1. Michelle Burke Parish
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  2. Sarina Fazio
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Correspondence to Michelle Burke Parish.

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Conflict of Interest

Sarina Fazio declares no conflict of interest.

Michelle Burke Parish has received a grant from AHRQ.

Steven Chan has been financially compensated for teaching CME courses from Psych Congress, North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC.

Peter M. Yellowlees has received a grant from AHRQ.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Psychiatry in the Digital Age

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Parish, M.B., Fazio, S., Chan, S. et al. Managing Psychiatrist-Patient Relationships in the Digital Age: a Summary Review of the Impact of Technology-enabled Care on Clinical Processes and Rapport. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 90 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0839-x

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