Addendum to the addendum:
It has been 6 days since the original patient broadcast, and like anything there are always ups and downs.
Make sure that as patients leave your practice, one way or another, to deactivate their portal account as soon as they are gone, so if you do a patient wide broadcast, messages do not end up in unintended portals. Although, one guy informed us he had moved and thanked us for all the care.
This first time I checked the little box to be notified once the patient broadcast message was read. Next time I will not, otherwise one could get overwhelmed with reading and archiving the same thing over and over.
I am glad I did this, to give me a sense of what a great tool this can be, at least on two fronts. To announce a change in office procedure such as warning patients about a new form to fill out so they will know to come a bit earlier is quite helpful. Or to announce when the flu shot is in.
The other unintended positive, and this has more to do with the original marketing theme, is a reminder to patients, that the portal is an extension of the office. Quite a few comments on appreciation for the availability of the portal to get directly to my nurse, other than the traditional means. I was surprised, and thought the patient response would be a bit more negative, but thus far has a component of a "modern day house call".
I will likely hear about the negatives on my face to face so may give a followup later.....
