Branson Clinic, L.L.C.
What is our purpose in offering e-mail correspondence to our patients?
To serve as a partial substitute for phone communication about non-sensitive, non-personal, and non-emergent issues to enhance patient and provider satisfaction. More uses will be available in the future when all of our e-mail correspondence is encrypted.
How secure is standard e-mail?
1. Unless e-mail is encrypted, it is always susceptible to unauthorized viewing (like a postcard vs. enveloped mail).
2. E-mail services like “hushmail.com” offer secure encrypted end-to-end communication if both parties use their service.
Who reads my email?
1. The Doctor
2. Appropriate ancillary staff who have signed a workforce confidentiality agreement
3. Consulting Doctors (if necessary)
What are some examples of inappropriate questions to ask in an e-mail to our office?
1. Any Emergent or potentially critical questions or concerns – call or go to the emergency room as appropriate
2. Any questions or concerns in relation to highly sensitive information or personal issues and information
3. Inquiries regarding symptoms, requests for diagnosis
What are some examples of appropriate questions to ask in my e-mail to our office?
1. Questions in which you believe are okay to be answered within one to two business days (usually same day)
2. To inquire about office hours, location, staff credentials, billing and collection policies, services offered &/or health plans accepted
What do we do with the e-mails that you send to our office?
1. All e-mails that are related to your care are saved in your chart
2. The entire correspondence from beginning to end is included
Is there a charge for e-mail communication with our office?
1. As e-mail communication is only meant to be a mutual time-saving partial substitute for many questions normally asked over the phone, we have no charge for this service currently.
2. This policy is subject to change in the future as health care evolves, but prior notice will be issued.
What to do if you do not get a response to your email within the one to two business day time period?
1. Call our office at any time during business hours.
2. Check to make sure that you sent the e-mail.
What e-mail correspondence will our office send to you besides answers to your requests (if you concur)?
1. Notification of change in our office hours, location, billing and collection policies or health plans we’ve begun or stopped accepting
2. Announcements of new staff or new services we provide
Final Policy Information
Our office reserves the right to not correspond with patients who do not follow our e-mail policies.
Please ask our business / network administrator if you have any questions about what you have read.
www.bransonclinic.com