Setting Limits
What follows each new means of communication is a process of patient education on appropriate uses of this form of technology. I would give patients my mobile number with instructions “not to call me”—or, more precisely, to call only in an emergency. For nonemergent questions, they were to text me or e-mail. Facebook friendships are fine, but I do not do Facebook consults, just like I do not like to answer medical questions at a birthday party or grocery store. There will always be the extremely distressed person and, if a few words from me can set something in their life right—whether it is by e-mail, Facebook chat, or text message—I will make these exceptions. Although the new forms are communication are valuable, I really do not want to answer questions like this from a teenage patient of mine: “doc wat de med name? Plz tell m hom shd I go to? I jus heard dat de symptom…” Please, I have to tell my patients, I can answer questions only in a proper form of the language—and yes, I have drawn the line at Twittering!
