Hey Doc, Can We Talk? Or at Least Email?
Remember The Waltons? When John Boy was ill, the doctor not only made a house call—he actually stayed for dinner. The days of home visits may be long gone, but doctors’ desire to interact with and address their patients’ needs hasn’t changed. What has changed is how they do it.
According to recent results from the National Physicians Survey, 20 percent of physicians who took the survey communicate with their patients through email. In today’s fast-moving environment and with the advances in technology and communication, as well as the ability to keep communication private, email and texting are definitely becoming more favorable communication options for helping to build rapport and confidence between doctors and their patients.
Physicians are looking for ways to make their practices run more efficiently, allowing them more quality time with their patients. And patients may find that electronic communication helps them get more of their questions answered.
So the next time you’re in your doctor’s office, ask if they use email and text to communicate. It may just minimize those “V-8 moments” many of us have when a question occurs to us right after we’ve walked out of the doctor’s office!
Does your doctor use email? Has it been a good experience? Let us know in the comment box below.
Join the largest health conversation in 140 characters or less! Tweet what you want to talk about to @SharecareNow and let’s start chatting!
File under: In the News
Contributor
Keith Steward
Dr. Keith Steward, MD. MBA is Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at Sharecare. Dr. Steward most recently served as President and General Manager of an accredited global medical education company. Prior to that, he served as US Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs for a global Pharmaceutical company. He received his medical training from Eastern Virginia Medical School and later received a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Tennessee. He has given many public presentations and currently serves on various non-profit community outreach boards.
« Previous Entry
What Your Jeans Can Tell You
What Your Jeans Can Tell You
Next Entry »
Lose It With Lamb, Week 4
Lose It With Lamb, Week 4
Comments
Leave a Reply
Visit Sharecare On
Share/Feeds
Recent Posts
@Sharecarenow on Twitter
-
SharecareNow: Help the @redcross's relief effort in Oklahoma! Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10, or online at http://t.co/Xn7TstPp79
-
SharecareNow: One study found that people who had sex 1-2 times a week had 30 percent more immunoglobulin, an immune-boosting antibody. #SCTip
-
SharecareNow: Eat Fat, Lose Weight? Here’s How http://t.co/KPY76yVDLy
-
SharecareNow: Eat Fat, Lose Weight? Here’s How http://t.co/KPY76yVDLy
2 hours ago
Michele Walsh
Yes, my GP uses a secure online emailing system that also gives you a copy of your records and recent test results. I think it is awesome and can’t wait for emailing or some sort of current technology to be standard for all Drs. This technology if utilized correctly should allow them to utilize their time more efficiently during business hours. With that said, I do appreciate the “old school” docs who are technology adverse and respect that as well. But there shouldn’t be any excuses for the current generation of docs.
Eileen
No, my doctor will not use email. She is also impossible to speak to. If I make an appointment, it won’t be for at least 3 months. Calling is a waste of time. I am in the process of trying to find another primary care.
Kathleen
My doctor uses an email service to email me but the patient can’t email her back if you have a question.
ML Kristian
I managed orthopaedic surgical offices for 40 yrs and never thought this was a good idea, BUT…last year I was dx’d with A-Fib and my cardiologist suggested my emailing vitals after a cardioversion. I love this!! I can reach him anytime and it is easier that an OV, for routine care. Not good for all specialities, but for me this is great! He is very accessible….so it also depends on the MD.
patti
Recently, my PCP started using email on hospital website. My lab results, BP and Dx are listed. Bill paying also
Bob Dunn
My Dr. said i could email him, that he reads his email every morning. I have emailed him a couple of times, but he doesn’t answer. I have to send him my email message again and again and i finally get an answer after 7 to 10 days.
charles french
Email with the Dr would be great. I wish they would. I vote YES
Margaret Kelliher
My doctor started using e-mail last year. It has been the best thing going! Last winter I had a cold which left me with a nagging night-time cough; I kept in touch with my doctor for a 3 week period over e-mail. She finally said, “Ok, you’ve done enough to try to shake this…come in to see me.” One prescription for a week’s worth of cough medicine and I was fine. BUT, I could have been running back and forth to her office or sitting at home waiting for a return call during that time…instead, she e-mailed me and we kept in contact that way. It was terrific!! I can also schedule an appointment over the Internet or ask for a prescription refill. Questions are answered twice a day by a NP or PA or the doctor herself. It is a great tool!
JT
My nuerologist uses email and it works great. I am able to ask simple, sometimes bothersome questions, make appointments and receive confirmations and reminders for appointments from him.
Linda Kosut Lyon
I am a Kaiser member (Northern California) and I LOVE being able to email my doctor with questions regarding my health, medications, etc. It is both time-effective and cost-effective. Cost effective because, since my doctor knows my history and I have a relationship with her/him, often I do not have to have an office visit to resolve my issue/question.
Kristi
Yes,I do e-mail with my Dr. and I get faster responses for renewing my RX’s. I usualy hear back that same day! It’s nice for a lot of things,Qwestions,concerns ect.
Joni Buschow
No, my MD doesn’t use email but I’d like it. When I worked in the hospital environment, I noted our MD- Hospitalists using email & checking labs of patients; being linked in to details without having to call me or another RN. It cut out the middle man, so to speak. In many cases, it increased efficiency/effectiveness which can improve outcomes of patients. Yes. I’m all for it! Regards, Joni, RN, CMSRN
Kelly Grier
My general doctor doesn’t email, but he comes to my house to check on me occationally.
Currently I am on HCG protocol, the doctor I go to see weekly and gives me prefilled syringes (HCG) and weighs me, checks BMI and other stats.(I lost 21 pounds in first 3 weeks and maintained exactly for 3 weeks and will now start another 3 weeks of injections..but also emails…one time I had a question around 8 in the evening…he responded by email in less than an hour. I think Medical care here in Mexico could teach American doctors a lot. Doctors here are interested in the whole person.
Happily retired for over 6 years in Mexico (35 miles south of Guadalajara…Med center for Mexico…Kelly
gwen hicks
my doctor has e-mail and I find it to be very helpful as well as good for my finances. I usually get an answer in less than a day. If I really need an answer fast I’ll phone and leave a message, then I get an answer in less than an hour.
DeAnn
I had a doctor who emailed. It was great. She made it clear to her patients that it would not necessarily substitute for an office visit. For many things she needed to see you in person. Emailing saved her office significant time trying to return phone calls and do follow ups after she had seen her patients. Many times it would save a follow up visit. She could also stay in touch with patients easier on weekends or evenings.
I found it valuable to ask her questions about medication or follow up questions to a visit. Some times there were questions to see an office visit was warranted. Emailing her initial information from a referred visit helped her while she was waiting for reports from other offices. It was a great resource and easy way to keep my doctor informed about my progress and save us both time and money.
Brad Johnson
I have been emailing with my Primary Care Physician for several years. She always replies with helpful answers.
Sandra Cohen
Yes my GP allows emails through a device at NYU Medical Center called a SmartChart. I can schedule appointments, get test results and send my doctor a message. My other doctors at NYU Medical use the SmartChart for medical results but not emails. I wish they all did.
Sandy Cohen
Marian Brubaker
My doctors at Kaiser Permanente have been e-mailing with their patients for several years, and it works very well. As patients, we can ask questions and receive an answer usually the next day from our doctors. If we need an X-ray, we can ask the doctor to order one without having to visit the office first. It has worked great.
laurene
I am a 55 year old dentist in So California. We use email, but I do not like it. i want to talk and interact with my paiients as I always have. I find I am spending many more hours communicating with patients in the variety of ways each wants to ask questions. It is eating up my personal time! I really prefer they come in to talk to me or just call me and i will get back to them soon.
Computers are doubling my charting time….and we thought they would save us time. NO WAY!
Also the computer age of medicine is very costly with replacing servers and room computers every 3-5 years. I would never go computerized if I had it to do over. Laurene
Dawn Higgins
Funny thing just happened to me, talk about coincidences. I e-mailed my husbands dr. last night because of a medical concern and have been trying all morning to get an app with her office. While I was on the phone making an app I recieved a reply e-mail from the dr. Afterwards I went to this site of Dr. Oz’s that was in my e-mail and saw this article so I clicked on it. So to answer your ?, yes my doc does use e-mail and I was pleasantly surprised to receive a reply which stated that for my husband to come right in and she would fit him in. BTW, we have been with this same dr. for over 20 yrs. and she is the Best.
Dawn
Karen
Yes, my doctor uses email. It is secure NextMD. I love it, because I am able to ask him those crazy off the wall things that come up, that you would normally wait for the next regular Dr. visit for. It also helps him treat anything that comes up better because he has more history of what is going on. That reminds me…I need to go tell him about a symptom I’ve been having…
Kandus Herod
I often e-mail my MD and I love love love it. It keeps me on track with what is really troubling me. I get expert advise from the only person that I want advise from…I find that I am also very honest and focused. She responds to me quickly, usually asking more questions. There are times when she simply advises me to come in.
For me, it is the best thing ever!
Kandus
Elk Gove, Ca
Kathy
My doctors office just set up a whole email and test result site. I set up a password and email just like any other site. This has been terrific. For example: My test results are all there and when I go to another doctor instead of having more blood work I can just print out a copy and take it with me.
Another example: I left my doctors office and went to pick up my prescription at the local pharmacy to find it was not faxed in, of course the office was closed at this point. So Sat. morning I emailed the office and asked if it could be faxed in first thing Monday. My doctor just happened to be in on Sat. and faxed it over right then and there. I would have had to wait until late Monday to pick it up if not for email.
Susan
I LOVE that my doctor gave me his email. If I need a prescription updated or have a question on a health issue, I just send him an email. Then, voila, like magic I receive an answer or suggestion of how we (Doc & I are a team) should proceed. I very much respect my doctor and the path we have choosen to address my health issues. By him giving me his email, he has made me feel that he respects me too
Ruth
I think emailing and phone calls are a great Idea. Because Sometimes I have a question
that can be answered easily over a phone or email. If he/she thinks they need to see me then I could go in. This would save on gas and unnessasary trips too.
Susan Carlson
Electronic communication is terrific if they answer. I have mixed experience. Seems it takes too long for my Dr. to respond electronically, and if he is out of the office it appears nobody reads his email nor does he set an out of office notification.
So, I guess my response is, if they have the tool and don’t use it effectively, then why force me to use it to communicate with them?
Charla Rettinger
Yes, I work for a Group Health in Seattle, Wa., where the DR’s all use email. Best thing since sliced bread. I can email and say something is wrong and without having to go in, she will tell me what to do, set up a phone appt. or send me to a specialist. They usually get back to me within an hour.
Madhu Sharma
I am not very lucky in regards to communicating with my doctor. The only method they use is leave the message for the doctor’s nurse. My phone calls were not returned or returned after 3 days. My doctor is usually not available all the time, he works in the facility 2 days a week,where I usually see/visit him. When ever I need to change my prescription or have a serious health issue, I have a hard time to communicate with the nurses or the doctor. I am sorry but writing this helps me with my emotions. Thanks,
lee gees
Wow l had a specialist in a
another state who allowed email which saved my life many times
When we moved to another state the specialit anted to charge me 50 to.00 dollars. for calls and none of them allowed email. I ended up the hospital 4 TIMES. IN. YEAR. I THINK CONNECTION WITH YOUR DOCTOR IS KEY.
Connie
My doctor just got the application for email. I love it. It saves time for everyone and if it’s something the nurse can’t handle, I hear directly from my doctor in a timely manner.
Judee Hill
Several of my specialists use email. Since I am 1300 miles away most of the year, it is extremely helpful to me. I get immediate answers to questions, and at each’s convenience. No telephone tag or interrupting someone’s appointment. I have multiple medical problems, so it is comforting to me to know my doctor’s advice is this close.
I wish all my doctors were this accessible.
Rose Sullivan
My Cardio doctor will return my e-mails promptly. I have a heart condition and must get clearance to take any OTC drugs. It really makes a big difference and helps me feel safer. She is a young woman and has great bedside manner!
Joan
I had a doc who accepted emails readily however my insurance mandates I change docs now I have a doc who does not want to email what should I do?
Janet Fendrych
My doctor does not e-mail as a matter of course, but she gave me her e-mail address. I have never used it. She is at a teaching hospital and her e-mail address is .edu. I assume her box will be filled with stuff from her students, so I don’t bother her. I see her regularly for follow-up visits and blood-work. She answers all questions I prepare for her during those visits and her assistant responds to any questions (after consulting her) I may have by phone in between.
Mary
I was just at my doctor’s office 2 weeks ago asking this very question. I asked if I could get my doctor’s email so I can communicate with her and the receptionist said, “No, we don’t do that we only have an internal office email, but I can send one for you.” So I told the receptionist what questions I had for the doctor. She typed the email while I stood there. After 2 weeks, I have yet to hear from my doctor.
Wendy Davis
I commented to my specialist I had called the office for a change in medication but never received a return phone call from his nurse. He said he had heard this before and he gave me his private email. Now when there is a crisis or a medication issue, I can just send him a quick email. He knows beforehand what the problem is and can order tests before I go in or tell me to get to the ER. With a chronic disease, time is sometimes an issue. I don’t over use it and he is the only doctor I have that uses email with their patients but I know he is really concerned enough to offer me that option. He has even emailed to check up on me. It gives another level of patient care and I feel empowered.