Naneedigital
- Is it OK to text your doctor?
- How do you text a patient?
- Do doctors read emails?
- Should I email my doctor?
Is it OK to text your doctor?
It is okay for a doctor to send text messages to a patient, provided that the message complies with the “minimum necessary standard” and the patient has been warned of the risks of communicating personal information over an unencrypted channel.
How do you text a patient?
Ideally, your texts should be structured so that patients can respond with very few words, i.e. “Yes”, “No”, “I need to change my appt”, “That works for me”. If you need more information than that, reach out to them by email or phone instead.
Do doctors read emails?
Legally, a healthcare provider is allowed to use emails, text and messaging apps to communicate with patients if he or she has gained their permission to do so. But HIPAA requires that all electronic communications from a healthcare provider that contains personal health information must be secure and private.
Should I email my doctor?
Keep it simple. E-mail is ideal for making an appointment, getting routine lab results, requesting a prescription refill or referral or asking an uncomplicated question such as what time of day to take a medication.
