I keep reading and hearing and sometimes even writing about doctors who let patients make appointments online or request prescription refills online. As a full time working mom, I am a big fan of online convenience, online shopping, online communication, anything that keeps me off of "hold."

None of my family's doctors yet offer such a service. But I just had what you could call a hybrid online experience. I pulled up the website (rather than hunt through my old personal phonebook...which I confess is still on paper) for a radiology center. Alongside the phone number was a place to make a request for an appointment online. It wasn't a completely computerized experience, but I filled out a form on the website, saying what test I needed, what days and times were convenient for me, which of their seven  locations I preferred, and what time they could call me. They promised to get back to me the next business day. They called at the specified time, and offered me a choice of three appointments that met my criteria.

It took a minute (not counting the 45 seconds it took for me to pull over and grab a pen, as she called when I was in the car). In past years, this took multiple phone calls and time on "hold." I suspect this saves the clinic money; it's a more efficient use of their schedulers' time. And it's definitely good for my mental health.