Telehealth.HHS.gov says patient portals are a secure way to send and receive messages. That makes them useful for non-urgent questions.

Good uses include:

  • asking follow-up questions
  • clarifying instructions
  • asking about records, forms, or scheduling

Poor uses include emergencies. Portal messages are not the place for urgent medical crises.

What to do:

  • keep messages brief and specific
  • use them for non-urgent communication
  • call emergency services or the clinic directly when the situation is urgent

This lesson is part of Getting Care Online from Lumoset Foundation, Fort Wayne, Indiana – free, always, with no account and no catch.

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