![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/files\/2012\/01\/WSJ1-300x169.png\" "\\"WSJ\\"")
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Fax! <\/span>The word brings back memories of black and white television, flares, MacGyver. But don’t laugh, that’s the medium I am supposed to use to refer a patient in Vancouver, Canada. It’s the dominant referral method in Canada’s so-called exemplary health care system. So it’s not pass\u00e9 for the Wall Street Journal to discuss the pros and cons of email as part of clinical practice.See the catalyst article<\/a> here.<\/p>\n They open with “Email has been so commonplace for so long that some people consider it nearly obsolete. But in the health-care profession, its use for communications between doctors and their patients is still controversial.” <\/em><\/p>\n So to see what is happening in physiotherapy, sports medicine, @BJSM_BMJ tweeted for ‘success stories’. We love ‘success stories’ at BJSM – these are key ways to rapid improvements in patient care. For more on that see the Heath Brothers’ terrific book ‘Switch: How to make change when change is hard’. <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n First success story came in 5 minutes after the tweet. (A success story in itself?) – Feel free to add your comments. How do you use email in clinical practice? Email karim.khan@ubc.ca or post to the blog if you can wait 24 hours for moderation!<\/p>\n ————————<\/p>\n Dear Karim,<\/p>\n We regularly email patients to check on their progress during\/following a course of treatment. It is also invaluable in speeding up patient referrals to\/from Consultants.<\/p>\n This is just one example of the positive feedback we have received relating to email communication:\u00a0 “I was very pleasantly surprised by how effective the treatment was. Despite the injuries I was able to keep exercising, which was ideal as I was training for the London Marathon. Jenny was very friendly and helpful – even an email between appointments. The reception staff were very helpful with arranging appointments at short notice.” A. G 22\/05\/2011 http:\/\/www.physiotherapy-specialists.co.uk\/physiotherapy_canary_wharf_testimonials.htm<\/a><\/p>\n Kind regards,<\/p>\n Anne Roebuck<\/p>\n Director<\/p>\n Physiotherapy London<\/p>\n 150 Westferry Studios<\/p>\n Milligan St<\/p>\n Canary Wharf<\/p>\n London E14 8AS<\/p>\n T: 020 7093 3499<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/files\/2012\/01\/PTLondong-300x202.png\" "\\"PTLondong\\"")
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