What's the Best Way to Reach My Doctor During the COVID-19 Outbreak?
As doctors work around the clock to treat patients with COVID-19, private practices and medical centres are receiving an extremely high volume of phone calls. Georgine Nanos, MD, MPH, CEO of Kind Health Group in California, told POPSUGAR that it's best to communicate with your doctor via email or through an online patient portal if you can. "It keeps the phones from being overwhelmed and creates a record of your communication for future reference," Dr. Nanos said.
Coral Matus, MD, assistant professor of family medicine at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Science, also uses a clinical portal that allows her to communicate directly with patients about everything from test results to medication refills. "I check my portal box each night, and can answer messages from patients after normal business hours, which makes it much easier to manage," she explained.
If your doctor isn't accessible this way, you'll have to contact them by phone to inquire about prescription refills — just be prepared for longer wait times.