A report issued by Thomson-Reuters states that among those of us with Internet access, 12.2% of us exchange email with our doctors.
We do? I don't, and I spend more time on the Internet than most. I would LIKE to -- but my doctor doesn't offer the possibility.
I believe most of us wish our doctor would provide help through email. It would be so much easier to send a quick email saying "My prescription for drugex will run out next week, will you renew the prescription for me?" or "My child is running a slight fever -- should I keep her home from day care?"
I believe many doctors would be willing to exchange email with us, too -- it would allow them to take care of more patients in less time -- always a good outcome! The problem is -- most doctors can't get reimbursed for email. That's because OUR INSURERS don't pay them for it. It's not that the doctor is unwilling, it's because our insurers are unwilling. They don't want the doctor to see more people in one day because then they have to pay for all those extra people!
In fairness -- sometimes it's the doctors themselves who make the choice not to use email as a communications tool with their patients. Some think it would take up too much time. Further, not all have invested in the security measures necessary to make sure they meet HIPAA rules for privacy and security. Without confidence in the security necessary, they won't take the chance of hiccups in their systems. Some even believe HIPAA will not allow them to use email (and that's what they tell their patients!) but HIPAA does not prevent them from using email.
I'm curious. Would you want to exchange email with your doctor if it was offered? Take this poll -- let me know what you think.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Photo © Sportstock / iStockphoto.com
