What do you do when your own doctor doesn't send an email back to you?
I live in Texas and we have what we call mychart. You get it from your doctor and from the hospital and any doctor that you see, however I sent my doctor an email letting him know some health problems that I was having but that was a week ago and it is suppose to take at least 2 days to get an answer back. I did let him know that I need a diabetic test my A1c is due but I can't get it cause he has to sign the order. And I did say that it would save time that he could send me for tests here in my town and then I could make an appointment to see him to get the results. My doctor practices at a clinic that is about 25 miles away from where I live. And when you see the doctor they only give you 20 minutes. I have not seen my doctor since July but I saw another doctor at the same clinic in early August. They know I am having some diabetic issues, and some memory problems, and some other problems, but how come I haven't heard from someone from that clinic I just don't understand it. When you send an email to the clinic to have your doctor get back to you, you expect an answer. I have tried to send an email but I get so mad and upset that I know I shouldn't do that if I expect to get an answer. I have been trying to find a doctor in my same town but because of insurances it is not possible. So I have to keep this one at least for now, so I can't afford to make them mad at me so that they would fire me as a patient. And he has already threatened me with that. This doctor is in his 30's and he has only been at this clinic for 2 years., I don't like this clinic but I have to use this clinic for now so that I can get my medicine and I know I need my medicine. However I can't send an email and just be mad and angry. I need to know how to get my point across and still have them understand that I do need to see a doctor. I have a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, an Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor, and Eye doctor, and a Pain doctor, and a surgeon and they all send him my reports and I am wondering why he hasn't made me an appointment to see him at his office? I am getting upset just thinking about this and I don't know how to approach his office about an appointment. But I know that other doctors have told me to go see him but He should know that I feel bad and that his office needs to call me. I sent him an email and he never returned the message. If this was easy for me, I wouldn't do this. But he thinks he has me between a rock and a hard place. I have already had 2 doctors leave me high and dry for nothing. No warning, no nothing. I have to keep him even though I can't stand him, but I try to stand up for myself. But the doctors don't want me to rock the boat or even speak. They expect their patients to "do as I say, or else" and I feel that the medicine that I have been on, is the biggest problem that I have. But doctors don't really care if you have side effects from your medicine. They want you to take what they give or else. I want to send an email to let them know that I am asking for an appointment but I also have to let them know when I can't make it and that they will have to work around it cause I already have appointments in November. It is just so upsetting the way that I have been treated by this clinic, that I start an email, then end up being really mad and angry. I am 62 years old and I am disabled, and I am on a walker because I can't walk on my own. And I need more than 20 minutes to see a doctor.
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Software works in the wilderness just as well as in a huge city. But a one-person practice may not find it cost-effective to use MyChart or a similar package, especially if he doesn't have the manpower to operate it.
Beside what you need the doctor to do ( write an order)?
Is your condition stable enough to go in once every three months? Yes/No
Are you following the doctor's advice, and if not, what do you expect of him instead?
Are you aware that doctors must see you in person in order for the insurance company to approve the care, the order, the prescription, the test?
Have you considered taking someone to the appointment with you to improve communication? Are you a bit difficult to interrupt with mild pressure?
Do you interrupt the doctor when he is speaking? Are you argumentative with others? Are these questions causing you to be upset, get angry?
When you see the doctor next, will you spend a portion of the 20 minutes setting him straight about the e-mail, or will you let that go? Time is short.
How long was the e-mail? Can you practice making your answers very short? To the point?
Why do you expect the doctor and his staff to change their practice to save time at your suggestion, instead of complying with their normal ways of routine practice.
Such as, what do you want to talk about to the doctor? Won't you be angry or disappointed again when you are told to make an appoinment, because they cannot treat you over the phone?
Will you be calling for the appointment during normal business hours?
Fridays, if the staff is in the office, they can make an appointment for next week.
If you have a more urgent need, go to urgent care. Do not go there if you need a routine prescription refilled. Have (ask) the pharmacy to call your doctor.
Have you heard about "the standard of care?" For example:
If you have high blood pressure, the standard of care would be to start you on a med that everyone else will be prescribed. If that doesn't work for you, the standard of care will get you the next medication that everyone else is going to get. And so on. If you don't comply, there is little else they can do for you.
That is what you get.
Sit with this for awhile, mull it over, don't despair.
I am in Texas also. In the last 2 years our doctors office staff have been handing out the online, log in to your information pamphlets as we exit. Family Doctors, Eye Doctors, Dematologists, etc, etc. Frankly, I don't think they are using them. There is no "chart" information on any of mine. I did send a message through the one with the Eye Dr. A nurse did call me back a couple days later to answer my medication question. She did not use the "portal" as it is called. I would call and make an appointment if you need an answer to your question. Or call the office and leave a short msg for the nurse to call you back.
When this has happened, my first question to the presenting person is what level of security do they have and what are their security protocols. The bland answer is usually "oh, it's a safe site." If they don't even know what level of security they have, they're not in a position to advise that the site is safe. I doubt if any of them even know what their protocols are.
I think it was last year or the year before when Chase was hacked. One of the Chase reps told me the hackers reached the 5th or 6th (or maybe the 7th) level of security and were able to get names of customers but no account numbers or detail on the accounts.
It's also my understanding that Chase spends a massive amount ($1B I think) on data security. I doubt if hospitals have that level of commitment. One of the local hospitals no longer even provides a little plastic pan of toothpaste, lotions, etc. I had to ask specifically for some toothpaste and soap!
After the BCBSM and Anthem hacking, I decided never to ever post or access any personal medical information online. To me, it isn't worth the risk. Besides, speaking with medical office people is a chance to interact with a real human being, and sometimes that's a treat in this increasingly nonhuman interactive world.
I guess it depends on the particular doctor's office.
I always call for an appointment to see the doctor, and if she is busy and the appointment isn't until next week... if I feel it is more urgent, then I will go to the Urgent Care center just down the street when I can just walk in and see a doctor. Always had good luck here.
I never use MyChart for urgent concerns, or to make appointments. I have used it very successfully to get simple questions answered.
Also, if you used regular e-mail instead of MyChart, if they do not have a HIPAA-certified "secure" option they may just not be able to answer. I am one of the few docs at my place that will happily do the secure e-mail thing, as my hospital does not have good two-way portal yet, but if someone tries to message me on FB they get a note back redirecting to secure e-mail as I am not permitted to do that at all.
But I will say this - doctors should NOT ignore the side effect issue, It is a big frustration but you have to deal with it. I wish you could find someone more simpatico that your insurance would cover!
Maybe, they are having troubles with their system. I would CALL the office and report what has happened. There could be a problem on their end and they didn't get it. Tell them it's urgent and you need to speak with the doctor's nurse. I hope you get some response.
My cousin is a doctor and he said that is how it is now, that the old style doctor was a thing of the past. I know what you mean about the doctor not writing back. My mother's doctor will respond sometimes, but not often. I think she is very busy with patients, teaching, and continuing education. I sure miss the days of the family doctor.