Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Our physician wants the office to begin using e-mail to contact our patients. Can you offer any advice on how to e-mail patients without getting the office into compliance trouble?


Florida Subscriber

Answer: E-mail has its advantages as a valuable communication tool -- but it also carries some risks. To make sure you don't violate the patient's privacy, get verbal or written informed consent to e-mail from the patient and document it in his record.

Also, make sure you do not e-mail patients about difficult or complex issues, such as an itemization of a bill or test results. Instead, call the patient to discuss these types of issues over the phone. If the issue is especially serious or complicated, you may want the patient to come into the office.