safety-net clinics

This  study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reports that “high computer use by clinicians in safety-net clinics {mostly serving the poor}  was associated with lower patient satisfaction and observable communication differences.”

The researchers found:

“Safety-net clinics serve populations with limited proficiency in English and limited health literacy who experience communication barriers that contribute to disparities in care and health. Implementation of electronic health records in safety-net clinics may affect communication between patients and health care professionals. We studied associations between clinician computer use and communication with patients with diverse chronic diseases in safety-net clinics.”