RT Journal
A1 Kahn JS
T1 Next: Text
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2012
FD May 2
VO 307
IS 17
SP 1807
OP 1808
DO 10.1001/jama.2012.3462
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.3462
AB 
I remember the first time a patient texted me. His text asked me for his laboratory results, specifically his HIV viral load. I was both thrilled and worried. I was thrilled because this was a great way to handle a patient's request and represented a technology-enabled “teaching moment.” I was worried because I thought I was in deep trouble. First some background. I am a professor of medicine, first at the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) AIDS Program and now at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). I am lucky enough to have cared for some people for more than 20 years. I give my patients my e-mail address and my office telephone and fax numbers if they need to reach me. All of this information is on my business card. I also give my patients my cell phone number. It turns out—not a big surprise—that my cell phone is the most common tool my patients use to reach me.