Changing Online Consumer

I read an article in EyeNet about "Internet Advice: When Patients Go Onlilne".

It makes a good point about the changing conusmer, and how practices and surgeons need to start looking at communicating with them.

The fact is, online consumers are taking more control over their healthcare, including their vision. Their questions are becoming more and more complex and they provide a lot more details, including sending photos, etc. when seeking information from providers.

Online eye care forums, like www.medhelp.org (in partnership with the AAO), give some indication that eye care providers, whether ODs or MDs, aren't always communicating in a manner the patients want them to. Many people that turn to online physicians do so because their questions or concerns were not answered by their personal doctor.

One of our clients, San Diego LASIK Surgeon, Dr. Sandy Feldman, who is a Medhelp expert, was quoted: "Basically, people are looking for more information about their conditions. And many times, people are confused by what they're told."

All this reiterates the importance of closely evaluating how you communicate with your patients in the office, as well as when they communicate with you online.