Who Wants to Answer Patient Emails? I Do.

dw

A 2014 survey of family physicians finds that “while a vast majority see the benefits of telehealth, only 15 percent are actually using it”.  Is this a surprise to anyone?  I answer at least 5 emails, with patients, a day.  I do this because it is part of the DPC membership.  Now if you want me to do it and not pay me, while working in the industrialized model, then you’re kidding yourself.  Also, most patients will always choose to email you versus having to come in and pay per visit.  This is human nature.  Here is what the also found:

The survey of almost 1,560 physicians, conducted by the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care and funded by Anthem, cited infrastructure issues as the primary barriers to telehealth adoption. Slightly more than half of those surveyed cited lack of reimbursement and lack of training as barriers, while 45 percent listed the cost of equipment and 41 percent cited potential liability issues.

Yup, exactly as I thought. No pay. Full liability.  Who wants that?  But DPC fixes this as well.  See how the free market works?