Comments on: Patient e-mail: Potential lawsuit http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78979 Anonymous Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:07:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78979 My practice has a Web site, but I don't put a "Contact Us" link on it. That's why. I don't appreciate the liability risk of E-mail.<br/><br/>I have links to various Medical sites, AAFP, Mayo, etc. They have fillable forms for patient demographics for a new patient to register with the practice. New patients find that very useful, by the way. Try it if you have a practice Web site. My practice has a Web site, but I don’t put a “Contact Us” link on it. That’s why. I don’t appreciate the liability risk of E-mail.

I have links to various Medical sites, AAFP, Mayo, etc. They have fillable forms for patient demographics for a new patient to register with the practice. New patients find that very useful, by the way. Try it if you have a practice Web site.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78958 Anonymous Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:47:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78958 Email leaves a permament record of the entire exchange, unlike telephone which offers the advantage and disadvantage of leaving to you (and the notemaking patient) to decide what to record. That part cuts both ways. A major problem with email is that you actually have an illusion of more communication than really occured in that you lose the nuance of voice with emphasis and tone. I don't use email now and have considered it, but only for apt scheduling and administrative matters. But how would I enforce that? <br/><br/>If I gave general information in emails as in "Usually in situations like this . . . " with a disclaimer. I would, inevitably get casual when tired or rushed and leave the disclaimer out sometimes. <br/><br/>It could be useful but really there is not safe way to do it. It invites flip answers without full information. Email leaves a permament record of the entire exchange, unlike telephone which offers the advantage and disadvantage of leaving to you (and the notemaking patient) to decide what to record. That part cuts both ways. A major problem with email is that you actually have an illusion of more communication than really occured in that you lose the nuance of voice with emphasis and tone. I don’t use email now and have considered it, but only for apt scheduling and administrative matters. But how would I enforce that?

If I gave general information in emails as in “Usually in situations like this . . . ” with a disclaimer. I would, inevitably get casual when tired or rushed and leave the disclaimer out sometimes.

It could be useful but really there is not safe way to do it. It invites flip answers without full information.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78956 Anonymous Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78956 the same can be said for giving telephone advice, even if it IS YOUR PATIENT - that's why there's so much "go to the ER - it could be serious" type of responses to after-hours calls. the same can be said for giving telephone advice, even if it IS YOUR PATIENT – that’s why there’s so much “go to the ER – it could be serious” type of responses to after-hours calls.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78949 Anonymous Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78949 So much for the computer age and medicine. I will NEVER answer a patient e-mail, thanks to the out of control lawyer industry. So much for the computer age and medicine. I will NEVER answer a patient e-mail, thanks to the out of control lawyer industry.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78944 Anonymous Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:52:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/patient-e-mail-potential-lawsuit.html#comment-78944 Wouldn't the patient have been aware at the time of the 'opinion' that she had not been examined, not had any other testing by the radiologist. <br/><br/>With proper coaching she can be taught to state with a straight face that for the full value and time spent with her 'consultant' that she failed to get what she paid for. Wouldn’t the patient have been aware at the time of the ‘opinion’ that she had not been examined, not had any other testing by the radiologist.

With proper coaching she can be taught to state with a straight face that for the full value and time spent with her ‘consultant’ that she failed to get what she paid for.

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