Late docs told to text

FED up patients are demanding doctors get tech savvy and notify them via SMS when they are running late.

In return, general practitioners are demanding a new Medicare rebate be made available to cover electronic consultations with patients as a new survey shows patients are complaining their GPs are behind the times. Doctors have asked the government’s Medicare review to make a new rebate for consultations using email, or Telehealth.

A Commonwealth Bank survey found half of all patients want to be able to communicate directly with their doctor using email and SMS.

They believe it is also time for doctors to embrace the bevy of new health apps and start using data from their fitness trackers in the diagnosis and treatment process.

The survey of over 700 patients has found nine in 10 want doctors to notify patients via SMS if they are running behind time.