February 1, 2004

Email Consultations

Its been about a month, since the AMA introduced coding for email consultations between physicians and patients. Currently a couple of plans, such as the blues, cover online visits.

However, I think email consultations will help to advance a level of convenience in care to patients. For instance, for controlled substances, (ridilin), perhaps it would be easier to have a new prescription requested via email versus a visit with the physician. While it is always good to see your physician, a 30 second email frees the patients and physicians time, when comparing it to an office visit.

Posted by Elyse at February 1, 2004 8:00 AM | TrackBack
Comments

depends if email is the best communication method for the practice. the thing about email is that it's much harder to track... this sort of information should be part of a patient's record.

See: www.slingerlands.com

Posted by: dave at February 1, 2004 9:33 AM

I belive that is what the practice of coding implies, it is a part of the patients medical record.

Posted by: Elyse at February 1, 2004 10:15 AM

Ritalin, not ridilin.

Methylphenidate is the best name anyway.

Email communication is a terrible method of communication. I email patients but it's really not that useful. I would like to see like an online web board for communicating. Care plans could be posted. Patients could track their symptoms, bps, whatever.

Posted by: IT MD at February 14, 2004 1:04 PM

Email is terrific for quick notes, followup questions, reminders. Its not the same as seeing a medic, but its not always necessary to see one. And its asynchronous, which, as anyone who's waited for the med office to open so they can leave a message can attest, is a very good thing.

Posted by: bill reith at February 14, 2004 3:54 PM
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