Face‐to‐face

Postal Letter

Call to Landline

Call to Mobile

Web Based (EHR)

Email

SMS / MMS

Immediacy

Slow: Requires a visit to provider

Slow: 2 days

Immediate:
If person at home. Return call may be necessary.

Immediate:
If person answers (more likely than landline)
Return call may be necessary
Immediate

Immediate:

Immediate
Or stored

Immediate
Or stored

Privacy and Confidentiality

High:
Personal communication

High:
Personally addressed

Low: Confidentiality prevents message being left as others may answer or retrieve it.

High:
Personal device enables possibility of message being left

Moderate:
Personal / public device?

Moderate:
Personal / public device?

High if
Personal device

Likelihood of misinterpretation

Low

Moderate

Low:
Patient can request immediate clarification

Low:
Patient can request immediate clarification

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Delivery confirmation

N/A

Yes:
at significant expense

Unnecessary if call answered. No if message left

Unnecessary if call answered. No if message left

N/A

Yes

Yes

Cost

High

Moderate

Low

Moderate

Low

Low

Low