NEWS, in embracing the potential of the communicative abilities of the internet, is making e-mail available for active patients.

General Directions for using "E-mail NEWS"

Our goals in offering e-mail are to:

Messages appropriate for Electronic Mail

Please use e-mail only for the following services:

DO NOT SEND E-MAIL IF........

YOU HAVE AN URGENT OR EMERGENCY MESSAGE !!!
CALL THE OFFICE @ 706.769.0720
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR,
CALL THE OFFICE @ 706.769.0720

Turn around time on e-mail

Allow three working days for a reply. If you need an answer sooner....call.

Appropriate Usage of E-mail Form

Fill in ALL blanks on the e-mail form. Leaving blanks unanswered, means we have to fill in those blanks before we respond, prolonging NEWS's response time.

N.B.: Articles written about e-mail mention that the messages can be harsher in nature than if the people were talking in person. Some level of non-involvement associated with these messages frees people to lash out at the recipient. So, be very mindful of your written words if you "fling" them across cyberspace. They may live in these voids of space for a very long time.

MESSAGE PROCESSING

Our staff will review and direct your message to the appropriate person. You will then be notified by e-mail or phone when the task is complete. If you have not heard from us within three working days...CALL. We may not have received your e-mail.

E-mail will be used on the above limited basis to facilitate communication between NEWS's staff and active patients. Anyone not having been seen in our office within the last year, should call the office instead of sending e-mail.  All communications are treated equally confidential by NEWS whether processed by telephone, regular mail, or electronic mail.

MESSAGES ON E-MAIL ARE NOT ENCRYPTED.     
THIS MEANS SOMEONE AT THE "E-MAIL POST OFFICE" MAY READ YOUR MESSAGE!

Usually e-mail accounts maintained by commercial subscriptions services are considered private.  HOWEVER, when communicating from your place of work, your employer may consider e-mail corporate property and may monitor your messages.  It is advised that you check with your companies e-mail postmaster before communicating medical concerns or information.

DO NOT E-MAIL ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO READ.

The following are patient issues that NEWS will not discussed by e-mail:

FEEDBACK

Feedback is welcomed as long as it is in a constructive manner.  Medical e-Mail is in it's infancy on planet Earth....and that is what is so exciting about the web! We are going "where no one (of this world) has gone before." Help us along the way and the journey will be enjoyable.