JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Being 21st century healthcare workers is extremely demanding. The growing number of chronic diseases, lack of medical workforce, increasing amount of administrative tasks and cost of medical treatment and the rising of life expectancy mean immense challenge on medical professionals. This transformation is triggered by the appearance of digital health. Digital health doesn’t only mean technological transformation but it fundamentally reshapes physician-patient relationship and treatment circumstances. We argue that patient empowerment, the spread of digital health, the bio-psycho-social-digital approach and the disappearance of the ivory tower of medicine lead to a new role for physicians. Main text: Digital health offers the opportunity to make the job of being a medical professional rewarding and creative. The general idol of a physician could shift from self-confident to curious; from rule-follower to creative; and from the lone hero to a team worker. E-physicians are “electronic” they use digital technologies in their practice with ease. They are “enabled" by regulations and guidelines and "empowered" by technologies that support their job and e-patients. They are "experts" of using technologies in their practice or know the best and most reliable and trustworthy sources and technologies. And also “engaged” to understand the feelings and point of view of the patients, giving relevant feedback and involving them throughout the whole healing process. Conclusion: There are major factors that facilitate this transition from demigods to guides who enjoy their job. Examples include meaningful incentives proposed by providers; a well-designed medical curriculum, post-graduate education teaching relevant skills; the wider availability of technologies; useful recommendations from peers; a rising number of evidence-based papers and guidelines; technologies that help save time and effort; and generally, a good experience with e-patients.