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Does your doctor do email?

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Posted 11/15/2009 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if anybody here has a doctor that encourages you to email them and replies back? My gastro clinic has a web site, but I sure have never seen any emails promoted. As a patient it'd be nice to email my gastro questions occasionally instead of showing up with a lengthy list every 6-8 weeks, but if I was a doctor (and having worked support) I'd get tired of it.
Posted 11/15/2009 9:02 AM (GMT 0)
Nope, mine doesn't... and probably wouldn't, either.

Nor would I expect it of him: poor man, he's stressed enough already.

I know some of our HW members' doctors do email, though...
Posted 11/15/2009 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
My GI doesn't but the IBD specialist nurse he works with does. She's really good at responding quite quickly either with a reply email or a phone call.
Posted 11/15/2009 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Even if he did do email, I wouldn't have the nerve to bother him like that. Thats why the have nurses that take phone calls.
Posted 11/15/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
smilewinkgrin None of my doctors have offered me to email them. However, my GI was always great about calling back the same day...even if it was an evening call. Then he went and moved to Africa! Now I need a new one.

My GP doesn't email either, but she is great with calling back and writing scripts. She's also a hugger! Nothing like a compassionate hug when you're feeling poorly. I think my 80 yr. old mom likes to make appts. just for the hug.
Posted 11/15/2009 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I can and do email my GI and Family doctor if I have a quick question. If either has further questions, they usually will call me to discuss it further. I really love it and appreciate that I don't have to try to remember all my questions. JMHO
Posted 11/15/2009 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
No, no e-mail. But if I leave a phone message for the nurse, I usually get a call back the same day.

PV
Posted 11/15/2009 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
My practice does email and e-visits and actually encourage them. If he just needs a quick check in on your symptoms he knows that emailing about bm's is a lot easier than talking on the phone about it at work. Also, they don't have xray vision so they are basing their treatment decisions on what you tell them. I like it.
Posted 11/15/2009 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
My old doc didn't, but my new doc does. I've emailed him once, seems to be a pretty decent tool for times when you don't feel a call is really necessary.
Posted 11/16/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Mine doesn't unfortunately, I wish she did though. However, my GI called me today (Sunday) to talk about blood test results and ask how I'm doing, which is nice. Never had a doctor take time out of his/her weekend to check up on me before.
Posted 11/16/2009 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Wow,
Val that is amazing!!!!(on a sunday)
My dentist will check up on me,but I have to get an extraction:(weekday nights):
Posted 11/16/2009 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
My primary care doctor emails me back within 5-10 minutes of me sending an email no matter when I send it. I swear, I don't think he sleeps! My GI doctor, on the other hand, is terrible about responding to email and phone calls -- she takes sometimes 2 weeks to get back to me if ever ... but I think she is really overworked. Her nurse does call back within a couple of hours during normal business hours, but if it is a weekend and I run into problems my primary care doctor isn't set up to handle then I am stuck with the ER.
Posted 11/16/2009 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
My Endocrinologist does e-mail and I LOVE it!

My gastro's office took almost a year to respond to a FAX. Seriously. I didn't even know what
her PA was talking about when she called as whatever it was I'd forgotten it by that time or had it taken care of w/my family doctor. Her office if FINALLY squared away and responses are much better now - but I generally just work things out w/my family doctor and for whatever stupid reason keep the once a year "well visit" and .... the "annaul" colonoscopy about every 2 years.
Posted 11/19/2009 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I e-mail my dr all the time.  He is very busy and somethings do not require an office visit just an adjustment in meds or a new script.  I will say we did not start e-mailing until he was familar with me.  He has even corresponded with me when I have had issues by e-mail when he was out of the country and has had nurses call me on the weekend to check my well being.  If I see him because something is wrong he likes for me to e-mail him in a week after the appointment so he can follow up to be sure whatever treatment he prescribed is working and I am feeling better.  He also forwards a lot of the e-mails to his nurse so they are aware of what is going on and if need be for them to call in prescriptions, schedule tests etc.  I have e-mailed him before and gotten a response back that he will see me the next day if he feels something is wrong.  He is a great doctor who really cares about the well being of all his patients. 

Posted 11/21/2009 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
My docs office recently posted an email form on their website for patients to use. I have not used it yet so I am not sure if they would be responsive or not. They have also never mentioned it or promoted it so I am guessing it is not used frequently. My GI however gave me his cell phone number and said to call him when I need him. I thought that was pretty nice but I still call the office instead...I really like the nurse there :).
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