The Transformation of the Patient-Physician Relationship in Telemedicine: Sociological Approach in Dermatology

Through this analysis of the three components of the service relationship as defined by Joseph, we have highlighted the profound changes affecting the physician-patient relationship in the context of telemedicine. Dehumanization is an inherent risk in any medical health care partnership, regardless of whether patient care is delivered face-to-face or at a distance. While some studies have clearly documented the dehumanizing tendency of some telemedicine practices, telemedicine itself is neither reifying nor dehumanizing. The organizational arrangements, the context of work activities, the modalities of use in situ and the types of technological devices used are all contributing factors in defining the level of humanization in remote health care interactions.