Bridging the gap between patients and providers: The role of e-health in empowering patients

Patient empowerment is gaining a growing popularity in palliative care. However, various organizational and management barriers, including lack of communication, fragmented care, and focus on interventionist care, counteract the process of patient empowerment. E-health is a timely solution to overcome these barriers and to realize the full potential of patient empowerment. E-health bridges the gap between health care organizations and patients’ needs, increasing health services’ quality and responsiveness.