"E-consults"
With the increased use of the internet, more and more physicians are finding it can save valuable time and minimize phone calls.
A few Insurance plans are now reimbursing for these “E-consults” but they have to be secured and through a certified vendor.
Two vendors currently in the marketplace are http://www.relayhealth.com/ and http://www.medem.com/
I routinely give my email address out to my patients going off to college so they have easy access and a way to ask questions. I have dealt with many, many issues this way and the patients really appreciate it.
I do inform them that emails are not secure and they should not write anything that could be problematic if it were to be compromised.
Unlike attorneys and accountants who routinely charge for every minute spent on a case-file, we have not charged for this service or phone calls.
posted by Anonymous at 5:58 AM
3 Comments:
Just curious, are there any liability issues with e-consults?
Yes, there are more liabilities because you are limited in the amount of information and no way to verify what you are being told compared to what you would find on a physical exam.
Confidentiality is also problematic because general emails are not secure.
I have many patients email me questions and I do answer them to the best of my ability with the information given.
Just as it is inaccurate to suggest that all doctors charge for every service they provide, it is inaccurate to suggest that attorneys and accountants never provide services free of charge. Many attorneys provide countless hours of pro bono legal work for those in our community who would otherwise be unable to afford representation. This is true for any profession. The difference is that other professions are not seeking an opportunity to be paid for services they knowingly (and willingly) render for free. Perhaps you should stop giving patients your email address if your goal is to be reimbursed for your services.
It is unfortunate that an otherwise positive reflection of your practice was diminished because you chose to take a swipe at someone else. Evidently your argument cannot stand on its own.
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