Too many reminders!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes to 1 reminder. Separately I wish people would get out of the habit of sending strangely timed texts like late at night/early in morning. Got a 7:30 am Sunday text welcoming child to a class and each year get 6:30 am happy birthday texts.

Do you know how to control your notifications?

[Anonymous]

I can't stand the constant reminders either. Doctor appts for me and the kids, dentist appointments the same, hair appointments, etc. Those who make appts and no show are why this is happening (and that has never been me). I delete them all, fill out check in info upon my early arrival, and it doesn't even matter, the doctors always run late

[Anonymous]

Yes, know how to control notifications. Want to bring back the judgement/etiquette that there’s such a thing as too early/too late.

[Anonymous]

This is an example of how technology, including multiple forms of communication, has just not made our lives any easier.

Now instead of 2 ways to reach people - snail mail and home phone (or as we used to call it, "mail" and "the phone") - we have at least 8. Snail mail, email, patient portal message, text alert that you have a patient portal message; email alert that you have a patient portal message, text message, and maybe google calendar alert or something along those lines.

And for your email, you need to constantly check your junk mail, especially if you have set your mail to always be sent to junk mail unless you specifically authorize it because you are swamped with junk mail.

And even if you allow your provider's office emails to go to your inbox, you may forget to allow the email from the patient portal (which might be different from your doctor's office email) and sometimes the email addresses of those things change, too.

And you need to keep up with your passwords for your patient portal, and the 2 party authorization so keep your cell phone handy for that. And change that password after the data breech.

And for the text reminders, you need to respond Y confirming and then remember to confirm that you have the appointment on your Google Calendar. Even if you check your text while you are sitting at your child's sports practice - don't forget to do that immediately!

It's rather a lot. I remember life in the before times, and I honestly don't think this new way is really helpful for any of us.

[Anonymous]

I only mind when I have already confirmed my appt in the day or two before and I continue to get requests to confirm the appt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an example of how technology, including multiple forms of communication, has just not made our lives any easier.

Now instead of 2 ways to reach people - snail mail and home phone (or as we used to call it, "mail" and "the phone") - we have at least 8. Snail mail, email, patient portal message, text alert that you have a patient portal message; email alert that you have a patient portal message, text message, and maybe google calendar alert or something along those lines.

And for your email, you need to constantly check your junk mail, especially if you have set your mail to always be sent to junk mail unless you specifically authorize it because you are swamped with junk mail.

And even if you allow your provider's office emails to go to your inbox, you may forget to allow the email from the patient portal (which might be different from your doctor's office email) and sometimes the email addresses of those things change, too.

And you need to keep up with your passwords for your patient portal, and the 2 party authorization so keep your cell phone handy for that. And change that password after the data breech.

And for the text reminders, you need to respond Y confirming and then remember to confirm that you have the appointment on your Google Calendar. Even if you check your text while you are sitting at your child's sports practice - don't forget to do that immediately!

It's rather a lot. I remember life in the before times, and I honestly don't think this new way is really helpful for any of us.

Some of you people really sound like dinosaurs. You can set up inbox rules and configure your smartphone notification settings instead of "get rid of all the tech I just want to be buried with my landline".

Quick question for doctor pre-patient portal:
Call office. Doctor not available. Leave message for doctor. Doctor calls back later in the day or next. Call missed. Rinse and repeat.

Quick question for doctor with patient portal:
Send message. Doctor responds within 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you OP its just too much and now they have the nerve to ask for a review too. Anyone get one of those too?

[Anonymous]

I hate the reminders. If it's in my calendar, I set it to give me a reminder.

I got stood up for lunch today, though, by a friend because "we never exchanged confirmation texts." But we set the date together when we ran into each other downtown a week ago. We both pulled out our phones and put in the date so I didn't think it required needing to text beforehand.

I guess next time with this particular friend I'll send a text in the morning. Should I do that with everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I am just getting old, but is anyone else feeling overwhlemed by the number of reminders, emails, texts that doctors' offices, trades, and seemingly everyone else is sending for appointments? I had my annual with my OBGYN today and received at least 5 texts to confirm the appt, remind me, send me registration info, etc etc. I have an HVAC repair person coming this week. So far I have received three texts and two emails reminding me of this appointment. I have tried to stop texts from providers but then they start again after the next appointment, I guess because I have confirmed my information. Also, I want these offices to have my email and phone number. I just want them to use it more judiciously!

Is there some epidemic of people forgetting appointments that requires so much outreach? Between appointments for myself, my child, and our house, it's a lot. I find it really irritating.

I used to get the free calendar from my clinic every year and write down appts on that. Kept it on the wall in my kitchen. I think it worked better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you OP its just too much and now they have the nerve to ask for a review too. Anyone get one of those too?

Our healthcare provider sends those after every single contact. ER, UC, regular appt, lab draw. One person in the family has multiple chronic conditions so they come all the time. They do have a different ph number so easier to ignore (everything else from them shows as a single phone number you can't call).

[Anonymous]

I refuse to use the portals. I just…don’t sign up for them. If I get asked I just lie and say I tried and it didn’t work. Nothing happens and somehow they still see me as a patient.

[Anonymous]

I am getting older and thus my personal memory is not so strong anymore so I welcome these. 😄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I refuse to use the portals. I just…don’t sign up for them. If I get asked I just lie and say I tried and it didn’t work. Nothing happens and somehow they still see me as a patient.

This is me as well. I already have to many accounts and passwords. I just cannot be bothered

[Anonymous]

It is irritating. It’s also irritating that whenever you input your email anywhere, you end up perpetually getting these annoying-ass emails alerting you to specials, sales, etc. To say nothing of the companies they sell your email to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I am just getting old, but is anyone else feeling overwhlemed by the number of reminders, emails, texts that doctors' offices, trades, and seemingly everyone else is sending for appointments? I had my annual with my OBGYN today and received at least 5 texts to confirm the appt, remind me, send me registration info, etc etc. I have an HVAC repair person coming this week. So far I have received three texts and two emails reminding me of this appointment. I have tried to stop texts from providers but then they start again after the next appointment, I guess because I have confirmed my information. Also, I want these offices to have my email and phone number. I just want them to use it more judiciously!

Is there some epidemic of people forgetting appointments that requires so much outreach? Between appointments for myself, my child, and our house, it's a lot. I find it really irritating.

Agree 100%. And if anybody knows Sydney Sweeney, could you please tell her to stop texting me?