I had one. Once.

No contact unless there is a problem, like they have to change an appointment. I was called once due to abnormal test result. I dp get letters, tho.

Only problem I ever had was with a pharmacy. Gave them my number and I was getting automated calls constantly. "Hvae you had your flu shot?" "You just dropped off a prescription and we're working on it." etc. I gave them whatfor and removed my number from their files unless there is an actual question/problem with something.

That is such unprofessional behavior that I would seriously consider changing doctors- very smarmy, used car sales vibe- ick.

I've changed docs twice in recent yrs for what I consider unprofessional behavior and bad doctoring. just starting with a new one and sure hope he is decent and pays attention to his patients. time will tell. my last one kept refusing to refill meds (that I've been taking for 20 yrs) unless I came into the office. He had my test results so if anything changed he could adjust the dose. but nothing had changed. He just wanted the copay and $s from my insurance. I went wks without my meds and that wasn't good for my health. and he went on rants several times over the past yr or so. he was good at sending me to specialists for things a normal doctor would handle.

and they'd refuse to tell me the results of my tests - unless I came into the office.

Glad you ditched that last Dr. sounds like a disaster. Maybe this new one just has a disorganized front office.

No, and I would find it annoying.

Some doctors offices will never tell you over the phone if you call them because of HIPPA. I always ask to have them sent to me or I go pick up the test results. Some medicines no matter how long you take them you doctor still needs to see you and check to see if there are no health changes. This is especially important as we age as long term medicines can cause health problems. I have a damage to my kidneys because of a medicine I took for 15 years.

maifleur01-- Good point about the HIPPA. I can actually access my medical records, including test results online through our network with the local hospital. My FIL does this with his medical stuff as well. I wonder if the OP can set up some sort of account as well?

Certain tests you do need a Dr. to explain the results. But reminder cards? I get those from my VET not my personal Dr. Hopefully they have't hired a 'practice management team' to come in an wring every last dime out of the patients like some dental offices have started doing. (Aspen Dental, I'm lookin' at you!)

I receive a robocall reminding me of my medical appointments and a card for my dental ones. But it is only one reminder. More than that I start looking for someone new.

Other than abnormal test results our doctor doesn't call. Through our health system we can view our results online.

A good doctor will want to see patients at least once a year or more depending on the medication and dx. It's for the patients well being. They aren't trying to get more $$$$.

I use the "My Chart" system with my Dr., Hosp, so, luckily I don't get phone

calls for reminders. Would be rare to get a phone call on routine things. I

can check My Chart at my convenience. And, check back at past tests to

compare, etc. It is great for making appointments too...don't have to mess

with the phone systems. I would get a call if there was a major test change,

etc....just to make sure I saw the results. but not for routine reminders.

Came back to add...I get my flu shots at Walgreen's, then just enter the info

at My Chart and the Dr.'s office put's it on my record...and Walgreen's will

also send notification to Dr. if you wish.

I got a robo calls from the practice telling me to get a flu shot. Ok. I hung up though when the robot wanted me to "make a commitment" to get a flu shot this year. Sorry, robo, you don't own me.

Same as Uptown Gal, all communication done through My Chart.

Walgreens did send me a flu shot reminder via email. I appreciate the reminder and I'm scheduled for 2 PM today.

I just started going to a doctor whose practice includes My Chart. I love it. I can communicate with the doctor by e-mail.

My Dr.'s office conglomerate has one of those patient portals that they keep trying to push the patients to use and every time I go onto it there is nothing current on it, no test results, nothing. Useless.

My doctors use My.UCLAhealth.org, which is a portal for me to get information. I get text messages reminding me of appointments but not phone calls unless there is something drastic that the doctor wants to tell me. With my Medicare supplementary insurance (SCAN), I have to see doctors in the UCLA group, but there seem to be thousands of them, and so I do not have trouble finding an appropriate specialist. I went to my dermatologist yesterday to check for basal cells, and he found five, which he treated. He said that if any of the biopsies come back positive, he will call me but that I can also check results on the portal.

No. I do have an online portal where they do update it with test findings and they send a paper copy to my home. They're very nice and professional.

I have the MyChart too. Get test results and can communicate with my MD on it -- at my (and their) convenience. What I don't appreciate is the need to call a central registration number in the city to request a call back when I need medical help NOW.

CVS and Walgreens drive us nuts, despite *knowing* we're registered for NO CALLS. (NO, I do NOT want automatic refills -- or to hear about anything else you are selling.)

The office I go to has a portal but the few times I have asked something there has been no reply or documents sent. I am glad it works for some but even though I am retired unless something like MyChart was linked to the calendar I check it would be useless to remind me of appointments.

I also have My hart, and I like it. I get an email when something new is added like an appointment or test results. I really appreciate phone calls or emails reminding me about appointments.

RitaMay, I would t like all those letters and calls.

Ditto here. The Stanford system has a portal that all docs use, all test results are posted immediately (sometimes same day) and with them usually comments from the doc. Email questions are responded to promptly, again, sometimes same day. It's really excellent and quite a change from calling a doc over and over and getting zip for a response from office staff. It's modern, it's effective, and it's very much appreciated.

I should add, I do like my doctor. And they do have the portal thing, kind of funny, there's no mention on there to come in. I just don't like to be bugged. And I didn't like how they sent a letter saying to call about test results, (which almost always means bad news) to scare me into calling.

maifleur01s - none of those apply. I guess then in July of 2017 the office shouldn't have called me at 6.20 am to tell me to go directly to ER to have potassium IVd into me because my test showed it was down to 2.5. I know the numbers it should be within, all they have to tell me is the # rather than keep it from me. I've had docs before who'd call me and tell me. They know how to tell if it is me and who else they can tell (in case I've passed out). I can't even get them to MAIL the results to me. nor am I driving in the heat of the AZ summer (a/c is out in car) if I don't know that my potassium is where it should be. That could be too dangerous. And he had the test results back from the week before when I was in there. when I went to their portal even after they told me the results were there, they weren't. And they said they couldn't help me with that because they knew nothing about how it works.

Nothing like that for me. My doctor strongly (and regularly) encouraged me to get on MyChart and I'm glad I did. I voluntarily get phonecall reminders of upcoming appointments, which I also like and I get email notices when something new is on MyChart. I can see when I'm due for a checkup, vaccination or something, I can get the followup reports from visits from there. I've been very pleased with this clinic, plus it's close by. I also was thrilled with the service from my urologist until he was killed in a plane crash. The "replacement" is nowhere near as good and I'll either seek someone else or change places.

I'd suggest you check with them. My clinic has options on notifications. Maybe you're signed up to get all the calls and such and it could be a simple matter of updating wants. I would do that before getting too dramatic about it as others may suggest.