Digital Docs
A few general practitioners in New Jersey have implemented email services for patient/physician interaction. This means that if you are experiencing symptoms of a common cold, for example, you can email your physician with your symptoms rather than sit in a waiting room and potentially infect others there. If your symptoms seem unusual or more serious, the physician would request you make an appointment.
Supporters of these so-called "digital docs" claim communicating though email will prevent patients coming in, only to see the doctor for a matter of minutes before he/she must move on the next patient. They say it will allow the physician to spend more time with those who need more attention. I understand and appreciate that concept. However, isn't emailing rather than face-to-face conversation even less personal? And if physicians must reply in a timely manner to their email, will it free them up to spend more time with those in the office?