A doctor says..
Patients I know quite often leave me an email now about some problems with a drug etc and I give them advice back by email. I usually print this off and put it it their charts.
This is replacing phone calls which are very time specific. Emails can be replied to in a reasonable time. There is always the phone if urgent.
Sometimes a patient will be overseas, interstate or in the country many hours away even by air. The email has changed this. I live in a state of nearly 2 millions square km. They also have my websites which contain things they can download.
So email and online services have become an integral part of my practice but is not overwhelming. It has made me more accessible and my practice of medicine safer (at least I believe).