At its best, the relationship between physician and patient takes the form of a productive partnership, one in which the patient’s values and priorities are combined with the provider’s expertise in an atmosphere of respect, compassion, and shared decision-making. When used strategically, electronic health records (EHR) can be leveraged to enhance this bond but the optimal use of any new technology requires patience and practice.

During a patient visit, striking the right balance between face time and screen time can be a challenge, however, solutions do exist, and many are free and easy to implement. In IMO’s latest insight brief, Using the EHR to enhance the physician-patient relationship, we outline a number of simple strategies to help providers use this technology to enrich interactions with their patients.