Diabetic Patients Use Tech to Communicate with Docs When It’s Free

Diabetic Patients Use Tech to Communicate with Docs When It’s Free: Patients with diabetes may seek information from their physicians outside of scheduled office visits but are not willing to pay for such services, according to a new study. Among 300 patients with diabetes, the study authors noted, 42% communicated with their physicians by telephone outside of scheduled office visits and 13% used e-mail. However, 62% of patients said they would not pay to communicate with their physicians outside of schedule led office visits. “Patients want some way to communicate with their physicians, such as by phone or pager, to ask questions about managing their diabetes or to share information about their condition, such as their blood sugar levels,” according to study co-author Jay Shubrook, an AOA board-certified osteopathic family physician. “They like the access, but they don’t want to pay for it.” What’s more, only 69% of respondents had internet access at home.