Proper Use of On-Call
You are part of a broader care team that has been assembled to keep patients healthy and safe. The team consists of clinicians, coordinators, supervisors, and other personnel. Since you work directly with patients and their families, you are the “eyes and ears” of the team, and observing and reporting changes in a patient’s condition is among your most important roles.
If you are calling after hours, the situation should be urgent. Any of the following could and should be reported:
- You will be more than 15 minutes late;
- Life-threatening situations;
- Falls and accidents;
- Hospitalizations; and
- Other changes in patient condition or home environment that may jeopardize his/her safety.
It is more efficient just to call about routine matters when the office is open and our full complement of staff is available. Don’t take advantage of your fellow care team members, and put patients at risk, by taking their attention away from other calls that require immediate attention. ONLY CALL AFTER HOURS IF IT’S URGENT!