By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    magnesium water can be good for your health but you can't have too much
    Is Drinking Magnesium Water Good for Your Health?
    October 17, 2023
    common misconseptions about brain injuries
    4 Common Myths and Misunderstandings About Brain Injuries
    February 5, 2023
    get a career in medical device sales
    What Are the Benefits of Attending Medical Sales College?
    April 10, 2023
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Elective Coronary Stenting: A Case in Context
    August 3, 2011
    PSA screening: Does It or Doesn’t It?
    March 16, 2012
    Rick Perry Needs To Make Up His Mind
    September 19, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Is E-mailing with Patients a Good Idea?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Remote Diagnostics > Is E-mailing with Patients a Good Idea?
eHealthRemote Diagnostics

Is E-mailing with Patients a Good Idea?

Michael Kirsch
Michael Kirsch
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Physicians speak with patients every day on the phone for a variety of reasons. Our practice now uses a portal system, giving patients access to some of their medical data and to us.  Although I was resistant to having e-mail communications with patients, I have come to appreciate the advantages.

Physicians speak with patients every day on the phone for a variety of reasons. Our practice now uses a portal system, giving patients access to some of their medical data and to us.  Although I was resistant to having e-mail communications with patients, I have come to appreciate the advantages.

  • It relieves our ever congested phone lines
  • It relieves patients from a state of suspended animation as they hope and pray that a living breathing human being will return to the line after being placed on hold
  • It saves our staff time, who no longer have to triage calls as the patient directly reaches the doctor

While this streamlined cyber communication system is useful, it does have limitations.  It can’t solve every problem.  Indeed, some issues are not appropriate for either a phone call or an e-mail.

Calling his doctor?

Consider the following scenarios.  Which can be appropriately handled on the phone and which merit a face to face encounter with a physician?

More Read

healthcare social media
Living and Working Social: Good or Bad Medicine for Healthcare?
Mid-Year Update: 4 Major Payer Trends
Creating a Compelling Call-to-Action to Obtain New Patients
Who Needs a Patient Relationship When You Have an EHR?
Google Hangouts: A New Tool for Hospitals
  • I was in the emergency room yesterday and they told me to call you for pain medicine.
  • My diverticulitis is acting up and I need an antibiotic.
  • My breathing is worse.  I think it’s a side-effect of the new heart medicine I started last week.
  • What can I take for constipation?
  • My cousin had the same symptoms and it ended up being her gallbladder. Can you give me the name of a surgeon?
  • I’m dizzy and my hemorrhoids have been bleeding for a week. What can I take?
  • I have hepatitis C.  Is is okay if my grandchildren visit?
  • I had some chest pain yesterday when I was shoveling snow.  Should I double my Nexium?

The practice of  medicine is not fully wireless, at least not yet.  Sure, e-mail is convenient for everyone, but if used too casually it can become quicksand. Often, the patient feels an e-mail is sufficient, but the physician may not be comfortable, depending upon the medical facts and how well the doctor knows this patient.  When you are face to face with your doctor, the medical history will be more detailed, there may be a physical examination, and there will be a dialogue and review of treatment options.  It’s a lot easier for us to assess your pain, for example, when you are in front of us.  Moreover, when you return to see us for a follow-up visit, we have a baseline to use as a comparison.

What are your thoughts on all this?   Feel free to e-mail me, but I’d prefer if you came to see me
face to face.

TAGGED:doctor-patient communicatione-mail
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

Going from Patient to E-Patient

February 17, 2013
Image
Social Media

Discovering the Value of Twitter at HIMSS 2013

March 13, 2013
ePatients
Global HealthcareHealth ReformHospital AdministrationMedical EducationMedical InnovationsMedical RecordsMobile HealthPublic HealthRemote DiagnosticsSocial Media

ePatients: What’s the Big Deal?

March 15, 2013

Medical Device Connectivity (interview with President of Capsule)

November 30, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?