Q: I want to start using e-mail as a way to market to my patients. Is there a special software you use to keep all of these addresses and send them out without getting problems from the web host. I heard that if you send to more than say 25 people the mail may be blocked as spam. Any information would be greatly appreciated. A: Thanks for the e-mail. Spam protection is a problem and probably blocks a number of the folks that used to read my e-mails. Unless the person getting the e-mail allows your address to get through, and there is spam blocker software, the e-mail will be blocked. As far as your ISP letting you e-mail in bulk there should be no problem. I would contact the e-mail carrier you use and ask them the logistics of sending bulk bcc (blind copied) e-mails. They will let you know how its done. I use a provider that sends them in bulks of 500 addresses at a time. My son set it up for me, I don't even know what it is called. When I used AOL directly to send the e-mails I had to be placed on a special list that allowed me to weekly send all those e-mails. I just write my e-mails in MS Word and send it out as you see each week Dr. M