Melody, you know those HIPPA forms you sign every time you go to a new doctor? They forbid doctors communicating iwth patients by email. They are allowed to fax, but not email. It's questionable whether even emailing about appointments is allowable.

A fax can be private. Email is NEVER private.

That's why the envelope.

HIPAA does not forbid email from providers to patients. It does establish regulations pertaining to all electronic communications, including email. The AMA (and other provider organizations) has established its own guidelines for using email. A lot of services have sprung up to offer the required security necessary for transmission of emails to patients. I do know some physicians who choose to not email because they feel it is easier to comply that way.

Well, in my opinion, in this age of technology, when transmissions are done at the speed of light (ever watch the show 24???), well in ten years or less, we'll all be getting on trains and buses, just by waving our hands in front of a sensor, they'll probably do away with paper money and everything will be benefit cards, or computer chip cards, and I bet you dollars to donuts, that by the year 2015, there just might be some doctors who will have people working for them, who, all they do, is give people their test results and explanations. Do you know how much time if will save if the doctor doesn't have to be bothered, that he can be with his patients, and that he has this special employee that all they do is handle phone calls, and when a test result is off or something, they have had special training and they can explain all the results.

I think this is a very good idea. That way busy doctors, don't have to interrupt their appointments, speak to a patient about a matter that absolutely can be handled by a person who is trained just for this.

I mean, they have receptionists, medical assistants, phlebotomists, nurses, and then a brand new job description turns up, lets' call it .....MEDICAL MANAGER....

The Medical Manager is the one who you discuss your test results with, she or he is the one you can ask all your worried questions, they will know what the lympocyte absolute is, they will know what your B-12 level should be, your glucose number, etc. They will have been trained in a brand new field.

Doctor's offices really should have such an employee. I mean, there are so many patients in these offices, and when they go home and they have all their questions, and no one can be reached... well, I just think its a good idea.

Maybe some day. Just imagine calling such a person and they are in front of a computer and they go, "Hold on Melody, I'm pulling up your file right now, oh, your cholesterol, is this, your triglycerides are this, etc.

And if something is off, they will know exactly how to explain it to you, and if necessary, can tell you, come in and let's re-do the test"


Don't you all think this would be a good job for someone???

Maybe me, someday???

lol


Oh by the way, Alan came home from the podiatrist and he goes back tomorrow for an x-ray of his foot. The doctor asked him "Does your wife, well is it okay with her if you have the operation, after all, she's the one that has to take care of you?" and Alan said "Are you kidding, she wants this over with, it's been a whole year of her taking care of me"

So all that is left to find out is if they will shave down the bone or re-position it altogether.

Will update.

mel

I think your right and good luck to Alan and his best friend you. Sue