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Example of Electronic Medicine

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Doctoor:
Dr. Howard Stark moved his private practice from his original base in Washington to the Internet. Answering 14,000 e-mails since his online practice began two years ago, he is less a harried doctor and says he feels more like a small town family doctor.

Dr. Stark’s practice allows him to provide answers to questions that used to be managed through phone calls and office visits. Through the use of e-mail, he feels he is better able to maintain a personal bond with his patients.

As reported at about this time last year, doctors were beginning to switch to the use of electronic prescriptions via the Web. Web-enabled prescriptions allowed for fewer errors in medications and dosing. At that time, the question was raised as to how much patient care would be provided via new technology as it became available. And how much would be too much, leading to degradation of patient services. Dr. Stark may be pushing that envelope.

He does not charge for answering an e-mail. “You have to come in one time a year for an annual exam,” Stark said.

The rest is free — prescription refills, quick questions about medication, even questions about unusual stings.
“What do I get? A picture of the scorpion that bit the patient in Belize,” Stark laughed. “I said, ‘it would have been better to send me a picture of your leg.’”

Dr. Stark believes that the demand for a doctor’s time is being pushed to the limit. Desk staff are double and triple booking the doctor’s time, and the time that the doctor is able to spend with the patient averages ten minutes.

Working part time and leveraging technology, Dr. Stark is able to spend at least a half hour with each patient.

Patient security is managed through the use of a unique Web site designed by Dr. Stark and a couple of friends called DoctorsOnTheWeb.com. Through this site, any doctor can manage his or her practice as Dr. Stark is doing. And so far, three other doctors are signed up to use the site.

Click here to read more from Reuters
Doctoor

Pharmacist:
It's important to use this technology for following up your patients, but you should think wisely before you rush to it.
You can't trust the Net that's why doctors still prefer the traditional way.

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