I think Doctors should have email for patients

[demtenjeep]

it would be a lot easier to email with questions and minor issues. IT would be less hassle for both patients and care coordinators.


You could email with your symptoms or questions and they could email back with answers or solutions and then could tell you to come in if needed.

[OhioChick]

1. Lawsuits waiting to happen. n/t

[dems_rightnow]

2. I suspect the liability

of passing along medical information in such an unsecured manner will mean that will never happen.

[MountainLaurel]

21. Liability is the issue

But not in the way you think. Mr. Laurel had a conversation about this with our GP a couple years ago. Apparently, the larger issue is liability about the doctor not getting the information or not responding in a timely manner. What if a server is down when you email about your symptoms, and then you have a heart attack and die? Or could answering a quick question about something be considered medical practice or malpractice? Now, most people would know better than to email the doctor if they think they're having a heart attack, but rules are made because of the lowest common denominator.

[REP]

3. Mine does

A feature available to all Kaiser members.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Yep. I've emailed back and forth with my Kaiser doc dozens of times. n/t

[REP]

10. Just emailed my eye doc and dealt with my last kidney Infection via email

I've had so many kidney infections, emailing is safe ... I ask for a UA/culture, they're requested, I go to the lab and pick up my standing order of antibiotics.

[demtenjeep]

13. simplify

the way it should be

[eleny]

4. How helpful that would be for some situations

[SocialistLez]

5. Some docs do webcam and some take questions via email.

I've never done this with any of my docs.

My insurance company does have a line to ask nurses questions about minor things but I wouldn't dare call.

[Walk away]

7. I always ask and (so far) every doctor who has treated me in the past few years...

does have email. None of them ever suggest it but they all seem fine with it. I had major cancer surgery on my eye and face a few years ago. It took 12 surgeries to put my face back together again and I had a great doctor. From day one I took a digital photo of my face and emailed it to him. He would email back that I was healing or figure out when I was healed enough to come back in for more work.

I looked alarmingly bad for almost a year. If I had had to sit and wait for appointments and surgeries to know if things were OK I would have gone crazy with worry and doubt.

It was my idea to send the photos. One of my "smart" moments.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. My doc does e-mail and I love it. She says she loves it, too.

She has also picked up a phone and :gasp: called us when she knew we were sick.

I really love my doc. Too bad she just moved on to strictly geriatric care, so we have a new doc. Haven't met her yet, but we're hopeful.

[Hekate]

9. One of my husband's docs does email, and it works well. nt

[lunatica]

11. Kaiser encourages emailing your doctor.

I have and I've gotten responses too.

[demtenjeep]

12. I think it would free up a LOT of time and avoid the phone tag game!

for example.

Today, I had an issue that needed talked about. Called the office, got the primary care coordinator. Told her the issue. Nurse called back...was in a meeting so I couldn't use my phone she left a message. Called back once said meeting was over. Nurse was at lunch. Left message. Nurse called back ...was in another meeting...she left message...finally 7 hours later got to speak to nurse and prescription is on the way.

A simple email could have avoided ALL of that mess and prescription could have been taken care of 5 hours earlier.

[w8liftinglady]

14. mine does-of course,he's affiliated with a medical school

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. This is a major discussion point for those who... well... discuss this professionally.

There are some interesting drawbacks, but mostly it looks like this is the direction things are headed.

[Greybnk48]

16. My clinic does. I can email my Dr. or Nurse Practitioner

with questions.

[Solly Mack]

17. Mine dos. I have to sign a waiver (privacy/potential dangers, etc.) allowing it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. My cardiologist does.

We've taken care of many issues this way.

I LOVE it!

And he does as well...

[demtenjeep]

19. think I will bring it up next visit

would save time!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. It saves time, and then we don't forget what we want to talk over...

:hi:

[Xithras]

22. Under HIPAA, it's illegal for any doctor to transfer medical "records" via email.

Medical records may only be transmitted in a secure manner to a remote host with some sort of authentication on their end. You can send them routine questions that receive routine answers ("I have a rash on my arm, what should I do?"), but no doctor should ever be stupid enough to discuss medical issues specific to the patient via email. The first time a lawyer/patient opens his response in GMail and notices that Google is indexing his medical "record" for advertising keywords, that doctor is going to get sued senseless.

HIPAA requires that medical "records" (which includes discussions about your particular medical history) only be transferred securely. You cannot "securely" transfer a "record" when you have no way of verifying the security, or even the identity, of the person on the other end. The fine, for the FIRST offense, is up to $50,000 and a year in prison.

On edit: Yes, I know that many doctors do it anyway, but they're playing Russian roulette. It only takes one disgruntled patient to ruin their career.