At what point should you begin accommodating your patients who prefer you contact them exclusively by e-mail?
First ask yourself if you can integrate e-mail communication into your existing office processes while continuing to meet your standards of quality, safety, and efficient patient care. Next, consider the current insecure environment of most e-mail. Before e-mailing a patient, be sure to obtain a written waiver from the patient acknowledging the privacy risk but requesting e-mail contact anyway. Remember, this is the patient’s option, not yours.
In addition to email, you may be able to securely communicate with your patient via the patient portal that is likely part of your electronic health record.
If you are not interested in secure online communications, there are still traditional methods. Just know that traditional communication may not appeal to all patient populations.
TMA Practice E-tips main page
Last Updated On
October 30, 2019
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010