Wednesday, September 3, 2025

No Thank You

Tomorrow I have my yearly appointment with a dermatologist to get my skin checked.

I've been going to the same multi-doctor practice for years, but I recently learned the practice joined up with a large regional company and my doctor retired. I had my choice of one of several new, young doctors; I chose the one that I could get into the quickest.

For several days the new company has been sending me texts and emails asking me to download their app so I can do things like check in online. I have been politely ignoring the requests. I have no idea how secure the app is and don't want my personal information floating through cyberspace until I learn more about it. They can ask all they want. I will just make sure to get there early enough to fill out their paper forms and show them my insurance cards.

VectorPortal
Five years ago today: What Are The Chances?

18 comments:

  1. Hope your checkup is good -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com. I did use an app to check in at the hospital recently. It was very convenient. -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

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    1. I've used trusted apps before, too. I agree it makes the process convenient.

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  2. Hope all goes well.
    rare.blogspot.com

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  3. I have often thought about the portals that so many of the doctors are suggesting we get. how secure are they? Where does all our info go? Thanks for the reminder to check deeper in to this. Hope you get a good clean report.

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  4. Sometimes keeping things old-school with paper forms just feels safer, especially when it comes to personal health information. It’s smart to be cautious about apps before trusting them with sensitive data. Good call sticking with what you know works.
    www.melodyjacob.com

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  5. Seems there are apps for everything and I don’t need nor want that on my phone.

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  6. I'm right there with you! Once shared "out there" we've no guarantee of privacy.

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  7. I do everything on my PC. Checking in online prior to the appt is so wonderfully convenient. No more info shared with the practice than what your physician already has and knows. I never give cc info opting to pay the copay in person. Easy Peasy.

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    1. My browser's privacy settings are pretty strong, and I am confident using it. However, the only way to check in for this visit was on the company's app, and in my experience third-party apps can be iffy.

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  8. The same thing is happening here. Last time I went for a blood draw there was no one at the front desk anymore, you have to check in at the kiosk and scan your ID and insurance cards.

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    1. That sounds like an accident waiting to happen!

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    2. Mary, that sounds like the Quest labs here in our city. I was sent to one to get blood work by cardiologist. Once I found the place, tucked away in a lovely professional center, I was shocked at how terrible the waiting room looked, like something in a slum. People were sitting around a room, all slumped over, and as you said, only a kiosk checkin. I turned right around and left. No blood work. Funny thing, the cardiologist never checked up on why I didn't get blood work.

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  9. Sounds like the prudent thing to do, imo.

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  10. Too much automation is putting people out of work and exacerbating the homeless issue. You can't ever be too cautious, there's always danger of a hack or the info going to Communist China.

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  11. Tellers at our credit union sometimes encourage us to use online banking instead. I like Farmbeau's response: " Why --don't you like your job?"

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