The Gap Between Consumer and the Medical Profession

Healthcare as we know it today, has created too many gaps between the doctor/nurse practitioner and the consumer.  I use the term consumer because I believe I am the one paying for a service.  Customer service is sorely lacking in most medical practices.  The front desk has become the gate keeper with rules of engagement,  policies for YOUR protection and procedures to get information beyond (like to the doctor).  I always feel I sending my information into space because my doctor's front desk batting average is about .125 (for all the non baseball fans, it is low).   Not good considering it often is in regards to a medication refill.  I tell my doctor on each visit and she apologizes but nothing changes.  You might be asking why am I complaining about this?  I want doctor's offices to get smarter about dealing with consumers and  get involved with social media and the incredible online resources that connect consumers and doctors.  Take for instance http://www.hellohealth.com  They make getting healthcare much simpler, interactive and accessible.  I want to be able to email my doctor and say my medication is running out.  I want to email or instant message my doctor to let her know I am feeling better.  I want to live cam or skype my doctor for followup rather than come in.  I want my doctor's office to text me if she is running an hour behind so I don't have to sit in the boring and sterile waiting room.  I want my doctor to accept my medical research and support my desire for all my records to be online.  I want my doctor to let me leave a voicemail on her phone.  I want the medical professional including the hospital administrators to stop being paranoid about technology, electronic medical  records and consumer input.   I want to see a partnership between the medical professionals, hospitals, insurers and the consumer.  Finally, I want everyone to stop using HIPPA as an excuse to block consumers and their designees from information.  


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Posted by HealthCare Whisperer at 11/5/2009 11:02 AM
Categories: social media,HIPPA,medical professionals,consumer
Tags: consumer technology insurer social media medical professionals HIPPA
 

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