Communicating with Your Care Team
This secure messaging system allows you to communicate directly with your healthcare providers. You can view messages from your care team, respond to their questions, and ask about your health and treatment.
All communications are private, secure, and HIPAA-compliant. Only you and your authorized healthcare providers can see these messages.
Understanding Your Message List
Your message list shows all conversations with your healthcare providers:
- Provider name - Who sent you the message
- Status badges - Shows if the conversation is active, completed, or needs attention
- Priority indicators - Shows if a message is routine, urgent, or high priority
- Communication method - How the provider prefers to communicate (secure message, portal, etc.)
- Reason and category - Why the provider is contacting you and what type of message it is
Red notification badges show how many unread messages you have in each conversation. The most recent conversations appear at the top.
Reading and Responding to Messages
To view and respond to messages from your care team:
- Click on any conversation - This opens the chat interface with your provider
- Read the conversation history - See all previous messages in the thread
- Type your response - Use the message box at the bottom to reply
- Add attachments if needed - Share photos, documents, or files when appropriate
- Send your message - Click the send button to deliver your response
- Close the chat - Use the close button to return to your message list
Understanding Message Types
Your healthcare providers may contact you for different reasons:
- Test results - Lab results, imaging reports, or other test outcomes
- Appointment reminders - Upcoming visits or scheduling changes
- Medication information - Prescription updates, instructions, or side effects
- Care instructions - Treatment plans, home care guidance, or follow-up steps
- Health education - Information about your condition or wellness tips
- Check-ins - How you're feeling or progress updates
- Administrative matters - Insurance, billing, or scheduling questions
The message category and reason help you understand why your provider is contacting you and how urgent the matter is.
Real-Time Updates and Notifications
The messaging system keeps you updated in real-time:
- Instant message delivery - New messages from your providers appear immediately
- Unread message counters - Red badges show how many new messages you have
- Automatic updates - Conversations with new messages move to the top of your list
- Read receipts - Your providers can see when you've read their messages
- Message status - Track if your messages have been delivered and read
You don't need to refresh the page - new messages will appear automatically when your providers send them.
Tips for Effective Communication
- Check messages regularly - Look for new messages from your care team daily
- Respond promptly - Reply to your providers' questions in a timely manner
- Be clear and specific - Describe your symptoms, concerns, or questions clearly
- Ask questions - Don't hesitate to ask if you don't understand something
- Share relevant information - Include photos or documents when they help explain your situation
- Respect urgent vs. routine - Use emergency services for true emergencies, not secure messaging
- Keep it health-related - Use this system for medical questions and care coordination
Secure messaging helps you stay connected with your care team and actively participate in your healthcare.
our healthcare.