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Doctor-patient communication: How to connect with your doctor online
Communicating with your doctor online can be a great timesaver and a good way to promote doctor-patient communication — if you do it correctly. Consider these do's and don'ts.
By Mayo Clinic staffGood doctor-patient communication is an important part of health care. And thanks to the Internet, it may be easier than ever to quickly make contact with your doctor's office. But not all requests or topics are appropriate to discuss online. Follow these tips to make the most of doctor-patient communication online.
The benefits of connecting online
The Internet can be a powerful tool for enhancing doctor-patient communication. When you communicate online with your doctor:
- You won't get a busy signal or be put on hold
- You may feel more comfortable broaching certain topics than you would in person
- You may save yourself a trip to the doctor's office
The Internet can help your doctor, too. Your doctor may use the Internet to:
- Follow up after an appointment
- Clarify your treatment plan
- Share links to helpful Web sites or other resources
Getting started
Before you connect with your doctor online, he or she may ask you to sign a consent form. The document may include details on:
- Who may review your e-mail messages
- The estimated response time
- What topics can be safely communicated through e-mail
- Appropriate e-mail length
- Whether e-mails will be included in your medical chart
- The privacy protection system used to ensure e-mail confidentiality
- Whether there's a fee for e-mail exchanges and, if so, what the fee includes
If your doctor doesn't provide guidelines for online communication, clarify any assumptions with him or her before you start. Explain that you want your online health communication to be as secure as communication used for online banking.
Using doctors' Web sites
Many doctors use secure patient portals to communicate with patients in a structured format. A patient portal — typically available by logging in to a doctor's Web site — may allow you to:
- Refill prescriptions
- Schedule appointments
- Obtain some test results
- E-mail your doctor
- Conduct a virtual visit
(1 of 2)
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- Hobbs J, et al. Opportunities to enhance patient and physician e-mail contact. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2003;70:1.
- Lewers DT. Guidelines for patient-physician electronic mail. American Medical Association. http://www.ama-assn.org/meetings/public/annual00/reports/bot/bot2a00.rtf. Accessed Jan. 16, 2009.
- Bauchner H, et al. "You've got mail": Issues in communicating with patients and their families by e-mail. Pediatrics. 2002;109:954.
- Whitten P, et al. Physician patient e-visit programs: Implementation and appropriateness. Disease Management and Health Outcomes. 2007;15:207.
- Rosen P, et al. Patient-physician e-mail: An opportunity to transform pediatric health care delivery. Pediatrics. 2007;120:701.
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- Robeznieks A. Don't LOL at virtual visits. Modern Healthcare. 2007;37:1.
- Adamson SC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 4, 2009.
- Bachman JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 3, 2009.
