Abstract: A handheld patient communication device (10) comprises a data port (12), a memory (14), a processor (16), and a patient interface device (18). The data port (12) is a “wireless” data port, meaning only that it is not hard-wired to the service provider operating system (30). This allows the patient to input, review and update personal information and medical information, view documents and videos selected by the doctor for that patient, take tests for evaluation of the patient's knowledge of, cause of, and treatment for, the underlying medical condition so that the doctor can more effectively determine the appropriate treatment for that patient.