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E-mail can be a powerful new tool in improving communication(交流) between patients and doctors, according to one expert.

“Using the Internet, doctors can answer more questions from more patients in a shorter time,” writes Dr Basal Pal, a famous doctor in Manchester, UK.

According to Pal, nearly 40% of American patients say they used E-mail to communicate with a doctor in the past.

He notes, however, that although patients have such interests, only up to 2% of doctors in the United States offer E-mail service.

Using E-mail, doctors can make sure of their advice and post patient information materials and other resources on the Internet.It’s said that more than 10,000 health-oriented websites(网站) already exist now.

However, some people worry that widespread use of medical E-mail might set up two kinds of care---one for Internet “haves” and the other for the “have-nots”.

But Pal points out that “by the year 2003 nearly every library will offer Internet and E-mail services in the United States”.That allows even low-income patients to use such means.Pal also talks about other possible barriers to the acceptance of medical E-mail.

“Doctors may be unwilling to offer E-mail services for fear of increasing workload(工作量) and uncertainty about payment(付款) for the time they spent,” he explained, “and patients may worry that their medical information might be read by others.” “But these problems can all be solved,” he added.

“E-mail may help us a lot in health care,” Pal concludes.“Patients want to know more than they can get in normal clinics,” he points out, “and they might find communication on the information superhighway(超级公路) less fearful than face-to-face dialogue with their doctors.”

16.The article introduces a new way of patient-doctor communication_________

A.by E-mail

B.by visiting websites

C.by searching the Internet

D.by using the computer

17.According to the text, some people worry that _______

A.it might have to serve both those who have access(访问通道) to the Internet and those whose workload is not too heavy.

B.it might meet double doubts from the doctors and patients

C.it might make trouble between those who can use the Internet and those who can’t

D.it might make trouble between those who have Internet experience and those who haven’t

18.All the following points are advantages(优点) of using medical E-mail except that______

A.it is more convenient

B.it is less frightening

C.it enables patients and doctors to understand each other better

D.it provides patients more choices of treatment(治疗)

19.What does the underlined word “barrier” mean?

A.possibility B.danger C.block D.secret

20.Which of the following is true about E-mail in the USA?

A.Every patient cannot use it.

B.Only doctors can use it.

C.Patients needn’t pay for their treatment by using E-mail.

D.No others can read the information sent by E-mail.