I agree with Twicker (on two different threads…..I’m impressed)! When the radiation took a toll on our daughter I wrote to two doctors. The second doctor got involved and I got a response from both of them (the second doctor was kind and caring and it was really healing to receive his e-mail). We switched doctors and the lack of response to e-mail was one reason we changed. The new doctor writes back thoroughly, and uploads test results. It makes a world of difference, but he did say few patients write to him. That will change. A recent poll said that people over (I think) 35 years old don’t mind holding on the phone for a doctor, while those between something like 25 and 35 years old like e-mail, and the younger ones are so used to instantaneous texts they could drive a doctor crazy if they had his cell phone number. We are products of the technology of our generation. E-mail would seem to be so much easier than the phone, so I often wonder if a doctor’s preferences aren’t based on age and what they are comfortable with. I, personally, wish all doctors would answer their e-mails because patients will admit to things in e-mails they would never admit to in an office visit. It helps with diagnosis for the doctor, and it helps the patient feel cared for. Realizing some articles will bring up the lack of payment for those e-mails. My doctors are salaried, so they answer most e-mails at work (but sometimes will write on the weekend….but I would not expect that). One of our doctors does video conferencing with a few patients in a test program. I understand the patients love it. It would seem a bit strange, but it would certainly keep everyone on their toes when there is a record of the complete visit. If patients forget almost 70% of a visit, having their visit logged would be helpful.

Once I found myself wondering if Kevin has stats on the average age of his posters, or a categorizing of what those age groups are interested in as far as articles go. I realize he doesn’t ask for our ages, but it would be of interest to me. There is so much anonymity here though I guess those stats aren’t going to be forthcoming. I link to my Twitter page, so I am findable, and so are the author’s of articles (and I tend to think some of them post anonymously too. Sometimes you pick up on a type of rhythm contained in the writings). Just thinking aloud…….it’s the strength and weakness of social media.

As for the not discussing medical matters: from a patient standpoint, being able to discuss certain medical matters via e-mail can help tremendously.

For example: I and my sisters all have healthcare power of attorney for our elderly mother. I live in the same town as my mom; one sister lives a 2.5-hour drive away, and another lives on the other side of the Atlantic. E-mail allows all of us to be kept informed as to what’s currently happening with my mom’s condition and what the doctor’s response (if any) is to the information.

Sometimes, it’s simply one of us e-mailing her doctor prior to an appointment to mention issue(s) of concern; sometimes, we have what we feel to be a small concern (something that might be able to be handled over e-mail) and we just want a check on what’s happening. If the doctor feels that something requires a visit, or if he is not comfortable responding over e-mail, he lets us know; this allows us to separate the levels of attention Mom needs.

IMHO, one of the largest problems (mentioned here @ KevinMD.com many, many times before) is that it’s hard to bill for this time. We have some solutions, but we need more implementation of these solutions. Until then, I would recommend that all docs be willing to use e-mail, even for some HIPAA-confidential medical information (and only with appropriate, vetted HIPAA-compliant policies in place) — but carefully.

The issue of written tone I think can easily work itself out. Look at the new products being released that allow you to send voice messages as email (TrulyMail, Google Voice, etc.) and you can see that you can communicate with tone more clearly.

We know that most information during face-to-face communication is communicated non-verbally (body language) but I think the spoken word can still be used with today’s technology to get more meaning across (someone typing in ALL CAPS might not be shouting).

One would think it would be quite relatively easy to contact a person who has access to voice, text and email.