Minor rant - what's with medical providers and online health systems

[csziggy]

It seems that every single medical provider I go to wants me to sign up and sign into their medical information systems. Maybe it's an OK idea, but if I signed up for them all I would have to keep track of a lot of them - family medicine, orthopedic clinic (that covers four doctors I use), cardiologist, nephrologist, gastroenterology, ophthamologist, and physical therapist - oh, and two different hospitals where I have gotten treatment!

On one level I can understand this, but at my age and with the number of conditions that need to be tracked, I can't keep track of all those website, passwords, and systems, much less check back with each to keep them up to date.

I think I will start requesting they ALL remove my email address from their records so they can no longer nag me about joining their wonderful medical systems.

[frazzled]

1. Ours are all on one site

because all our doctors are connected with a large university-affiliated teaching hospital.

The benefit, as I see it, is that not only can we access all our records and test results, etc. but that doctors can share information through such systems instantly. That was really important a few years ago when my spouse had a battery of doctors, from a hematological oncologist, to neck, thoracic, pulmonary and other surgeons, as well as CT and PET scan analysts. They were all apprised of what was going on, and we could look at their reports as well.

[Hoyt]

2. I guess I'm just different. I'll do just about anything to keep from having to call a docs office,

pharmacy, etc., to make appointments, get prescription refills, etc. I hate talking on the phone. I can do all that stuff any time of day, don't get put on hold, and such. Plus, I don't have to open mail, file paper records, . . . . . .

Usually, one's email is the User Name, and I try to use the same password to avoid issues with that.

I've not done it yet, but supposedly I can email my docs and ask questions. There are even billing codes docs can use form internet care, although not sure many insurers cover them.

[csziggy]

3. If they were on the same system, I'd be happier

I haven't signed into my back doctor's system - which should the same as the rest of the orthopedic doctors' but apparently is not. Every few weeks I get a request from him to give him feedback. It's nearly a year since he did my back fusion and over six months since ge discharged me from his care. By now he should know I am not going to sign in to tell him what we agreed about on my last visit- while the fusion stabilized things, the nerve damage is permanent.

[raging moderate]

4. Yes, I agree.

I actually wrote to them that they had my full permission to publish my medical records in the New York Times. Why all the top-secret electronic special handshakes, etc.?

[csziggy]

5. Would each doctor charge my insurance for reading my replies?

Oh - if they want me to give a rating of pain and other things on a scale of 0-10 I'd get really pissed. I just got discharged from physical therapy. Every single visit I had to do the 0-10 rating for pain, function, and other factors. I HATE that scale!