Communicating with your Doctor

[ALCapshaw2]

I've seen a number of posts where members refer to e-mailing their Doctor (whether PCP or Cardiologist or Surgeon) with their non-urgent concerns or questions.

My Doctors do NOT use this form of communication and I wonder how the doctor's who do accept e-mail from their patients came to the conclusion that this was a useful and beneficial way to communicate with their patients.

Communicating with ANYONE at my VERY LARGE Cardiology Group is always very frustrating and a little disconcerting since the responding nurse is almost always someone whom I have never seen and knows nothing about my situation. Generally it takes at least one and often two days to get a response. Paper Copies of test results can take weeks.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to 'encourage' better communication with their Doctors?

'AL'

 

[Nancy]

The new Hippa regulations can cause email communication problems, since email is not always secure. I am able to communicate with Joe's cardiology NPs through email and it's so wonderful, plus if there is something urgent, I can call her pager and get an immediate return call. No waiting around for a callback that never comes. That is the biggest pain in the rear. You have to make sure your phone is open all day long, and even for several days and that you are home. When you have a lot of communicating to do, it's not fun.

Other doctors do not do email, or shy away from it.

I really cannot stand the phone limbo systems. Several times I have never received a callback. I'm never sure if the person gets the message or not. But if it's something serious,I will keep calling until I get a human being, even if I have to use the emergency numbers. You do what you have to do.

Too many doctor's offices are shutting down their patient's ability to call with questions or even for appointments. I guess I don't know what it's like from their point of view. Maybe they are receiving a ton of irrelevant calls which are tying up the phones, I haven't a clue. All I know is that it's frustrating at times and infuriatating at others.

 

[MelissaM]

It may sound counter-intuitive, but I have found that just "dropping in" to the office has marvelous effects. I have gotten paperwork, questions, and things that would have required three separate appointments all handled by just dropping by. There is a sense of urgency that is created by waiting at the reception desk. I swear by this method for stuff that has gotten the run-around for a while. Being pleasant and acting innocent helps!

 

[Kenny F]

It seems there is no consistency. As with Melissa, at my PCP the best way is to show up at the desk. Otherwise they have a quais-effective phone mail system to work thru to leave messages, which usually results in a returned message, phone tag, etc. I have stood in front of them and gotten RX refills, lab results, appointments, even a flu shot.

My surgeon's office the nurse will return the call and is diligent to fix the problem or answer the question.

My cardio is the most efficient of all. His nurse knows each case and is the liaison for anything - you never deal with anybody else.

Of course, all bets are off on the weekend!

 

[bvdr]

I tend to drop by as well. It takes less time and more gets accomplished. And like Melissa said, I am very very nice to the people I talk to.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Thank you all for your replies.

Unfortunately, even 'dropping by' doesn't work very well with this VERY LARGE Group of 25 cardiologists because each Doctor rotates through their multiple sites which include the local Hospital ER, Heart Center Stress Testing, Heart Center Cath Lab, and 7 local community offices. When one's regular Card IS in the office, they are usually scheduled up and their primary nurse is seeing patients with the Card so a Nurse Visit typically results in seeing one of the OTHER nurses, usually one I've never seen before (there must be 50 or more nurses in the queue to see patients and return phone calls. The phone system is even more maddening. Everyone hates it, including the staff! It took 4 weeks to get a *written* copy of my lastest Echo results. I did get a verbal 'everything is OK, we will monitor you every 6 to 9 months' after the test from my cardiologist.

The GOOD side of this group is that there is ALWAYS someone in the Hospital 24/7 and the Hospital Cath Lab is staffed by 5 or 6 guys who do almost nothing but Caths / Angioplasties / Stents so they are VERY GOOD and very efficient, possibly the best in the state. If you go to the ER with Chest Pain, you go to the front of the line and get all of the appropriate attention and tests. It's hard to walk away from that.

Next week I have an appointment with a new INTERNIST who specializes in preventive cardiology (and diabetes) so hopefully he will be able to pick up my monitoring, test interpretation, and non-urgent issues. My current PCP no longer wants to deal with my heart issues.

.AL'

 

[Georgia]

MD's and e-mail

MD's and e-mail

I've had really good luck with getting information from my cadiologist; big group, and PA's that get the job done. Because I haven't had many problems (knock wood) I haven't had to contact my cardio directly; but we are given the cardiologist's and surgeon's e-mail addresses. So my guess is that they must check and answer or it'd be stupid to give them out on their cards.

I'm interested in everyone's experience with this.

 

[Birky]

Drs.

Drs.

My Cardio is in a large group of 25 or more Drs. I have never had a problem with getting return phone calls etc. When I call they put me through to his nurse or give her a message to call me back. This has always been done in a timely manner and without problems. I have faxed her questions and then she asks him and then calls me. I have gone to the same group for 14 years. Someone is on call 24/7's. The only drawback is that they are 60 miles away but do visit the local hospitals on a weekly basis. I have seen my Doc here. A few years ago, one of the nurses who always was there for my treadmill told me that they had started a new procedure. If a Doc was rude to any patient, they were charged a $1000 fine. I know they are all busy, but so are we. I have no qualms about calling for results if they are not given to me on a timely basis. It is amazing how they can keep track of everyone, but they do.