FAQs about Secure Electronic Messaging Who will read my messages? What is secure electronic messaging? Only your health care team, such as your health care providers and specific clinic staff, can read your messages. Secure messaging is a way to communicate with your health care providers using the Internet. It’s like email but has extra security to protect your health information. How do I get started? You can use secure messaging to: Ask your health care providers or clinic staff if secure messaging is available and how to sign up. It may be available Ask questions you may have a secure online website that gives through a patient portal, forgotten during your visit or you access to your health information. that come up between visits What are the benefits to me? Let your health care team know Relationship with your health care providers Regular – communication can improve your relationship with your how you’re doing or about any health care providers and help them get to know you changes in your health. better. Convenience You can send messages at your – Get help for minor health convenience from your home, office, or anywhere you concerns that may not need an have Internet access. Not rushed You can take your time to think about what – office visit you want to say. Feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics – Request medication refills and You may feel more comfortable discussing sensitive referrals to specialists health issues using messaging rather than in person. No phone messages or tag” You won’t “telephone – Get help with billing and have to wait on hold or leave phone messages. And you insurance issues will never miss a response because of tag.” “telephone Messages are saved Messages become part of your – medical record. You can go back to messages later to recall important information. Can I communicate family Remember! members too? Secure messaging is not You may be able to use secure messaging to stay in touch for urgent care issues! with health care providers who are caring for your family members, such as an older parent or relative.
FAQs about Secure Electronic Messaging What is secure electronic messaging? Secure messaging is a way to communicate with your health care providers using the Internet. It’s like email but has extra security to protect your health information. How do I get started? Ask your health care providers or clinic staff if secure messaging is available and how to sign up. It may be available through a patient portal, a secure online website that gives you access to your health information. What are the benefits to me? Relationship with your health care providers – Regular communication can improve your relationship with your health care providers and help them get to know you better. Convenience – You can send messages at your convenience from your home, office, or anywhere you have Internet access. Not rushed – You can take your time to think about what you want to say. Feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics – You may feel more comfortable discussing sensitive health issues using messaging rather than in person. No phone messages or “telephone tag” – You won’t have to wait on hold or leave phone messages. And you will never miss a response because of “telephone tag.” Messages are saved – Messages become part of your medical record. You can go back to messages later to recall important information. Can I communicate family members too? You may be able to use secure messaging to stay in touch with health care providers who are caring for your family members, such as an older parent or relative. Who will read my messages? Only your health care team, such as your health care providers and specific clinic staff, can read your messages. You can use secure messaging to: Ask questions you may have forgotten during your visit or that come up between visits Let your health care team know how you’re doing or about any changes in your health. Get help for minor health concerns that may not need an office visit Request medication refills and referrals to specialists Get help with billing and insurance issues Remember! Secure messaging is not for urgent care issues!