Medpedia

Docs, it's time to embrace online chat and texting with patients - FierceMobileHealthcare Of course it is time to open all channels of communication with our patients. When we reduce barriers to care we improve outcomes. So why are doctors not all lining up to do this? The answer is that the payment system punishes doctors for doing work outside the financially sanctified "office visit." Primary care practices are barely hanging on and cannot afford to take on more unfunded work. The only way to move forward on adopting new technologies and new process is in the context of re-designed payment. Practices do this work when they have adequate funding to engage in the full scope of primary care. When payers fund the full scope of effective primary care we will be unleashed. When payers unburden us from the crushing burden of administrative trivia that distracts us from getting on line with our patients we will be unleashed. The short leash approach of added administrative trivia making us prove the worth of each and every virtual visit is not the solution, it is more of the incremental torture that ultimately maintains the status quo.