Thinking Outside of the Box: Free Customers Welcome
May 10th, 2009
Auction houses, real estate brokers, dating services --to name a few-- are among those businesses who offer value/information to nonpaying customers. The internet is a perfect venue for a virtual retail experience without having to actually make a purchase. When it comes to medical information, similarly, a host of web-based information is available. The only problem is assessing credibility and accuracy of the sites, and genuinely having your personalized query answered to your satisfaction. Most of the time, one still needs to make an appointment with a new doctor to get access to him/her for the first time.
This week I must have received no fewer than 4 emails from outside of New York state and 2-3 from the Greater Rochester area, in which I was asked a question from a person who is not yet my patient. Does this need attention? What do my symptoms sound like? Can you see me? Etc.
This accessibility, via the "Contact Dr. Tomaino" section of my website has lived up to my expectations!! I have the opportunity to interface with people--potential patients-- from all over, many of whom are truly between a rock and a hardplace--looking for trustworthy advice.
Ofcourse, I am limited in terms of what I can provide via email, but at the very least, I can recommend experts in certain areas of the country, facilitate travel here to Rochester, if--after review of records and xrays--I think I can help, or at least provide reassurance.
Most gratifying is when I receive an email over the weekend from someone in my area who has developed an acute problem and wants to be seen asap. In a no hassle fashion, I can arrange for an office appointment the very next week in most cases, or at the very least, provide nearly instantaneous feedback. What a tremendous privilege I am afforded by technology!!
*POST EDITED BY DR. TOMAINO.
*POST EDITED BY DR. TOMAINO.
*POST EDITED BY DR. TOMAINO.
Replies