At a recent meeting, it was suggested that all physicians at our hospital give out our personal cell phone numbers when patients are being discharged, and tell them to call us with any issues. This would supposedly improve patient satisfaction. The medical director said he'd been doing this for years and had only gotten "like two calls ever."
The response was overwhelmingly, "Hell no."
I know of several physicians who have given out their cell to a patient and been harassed for years. But apparently, doctors giving out their cell numbers is a thing now.
What do you think?
Hell no. My personal cell number is exactly that: personal.
ReplyDeleteNO! NO! NO!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not! I once called a patient about an upcoming outreach appointment. I was traveling to the outreach location and forgetting that I was on my personal cell, this gave him my number. He proceeded to call me (always on weekends) for every crisis in his life. I ended up changing my number since telling him to stop calling did not work.
ReplyDeleteOur pediatrician gave us her cell number 16 years ago because our daughter had complex medical issues. We have only called her three times in what I thought wer true emergent issues when we were out of state. She also gave us her pager number which we have never used. I guess she trusted us not to abuse it.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the trust, but I would never expect it. There were even a few times she said I should/could have called her but I had a hard time feeling like I was over stepping a boundary.
Yes, it sometimes it sucks to have to wait for an answer to a question when you have to go through an answering service, but tough titties. If it is that much of an emergency call an ambulance.
Can you tell us any instances that a question has to be answered within a few hours that wouldn't be need to be a trip to the hospital?
Depends on the patient but 90% of the time, big fat NO
ReplyDeleteOh, hell no! Why not give the patient's our home addresses and tell them to drop in anytime they aren't feeling well?
DeleteNot unless you're willing to get into a personal relationship with the patient.
ReplyDeleteThat's part of what distinguishes concierge medicine from non-concierge medicine.
ReplyDeleteWe pay a stunning amount per month (think BMW lease payment) for our two kids to be part of a concierge pediatric practice (one of our kids has a primary immune deficiency, so we pay to have a senior guy act as quarterback of his large group of consultants).
We have his cell phone number, and he has told us to call any time, but in general, unless it's really urgent we call his service and let him call us back. It's just manners. That said, if our son is inpatient and the resident just had a "learning experience" at his expense, we're dialing his cell phone pretty fast.
When my kid was diagnosed with brain cancer, his neurologist and his pediatrician gave me their cell phones. Since I'm already a doc and they're in the same hospital system, I had access to their pagers anyway, but it was a kind thought. OTOH, I've used the neurologists cell phone number zero times, and the pediatrician's cell phone number once, to message her a cute video where another of my children said she wanted to grow up and be a pediatrician just like Dr. , and not for a medical crisis. In selected patients (ie, those you know are sane, and who won't abuse it, and who are facing a crisis), it's a kind move that indicates empathy and willingness to help. In the vast majority of patients, it's risking real trouble. That's why I have my admin's # on my business cards ... she can filter and page me if there's a real crisis.
ReplyDeleteNot an MD, but a now-disabled reporter. I gave out my personal (not work) cell number in a handful of cases. Work number could safely go to voice mail when I was home and not "on the job" but personal phone was answered immediately. There are arguments both sides, but I do vote for some privacy. So, best judgement.
ReplyDeleteHell no.
ReplyDeleteMost people will be respectful, but if one tenth of my patients called me just once a week, I'd never have any privacy.
There's also the liability. If I'm away from office/charting and cannot look up their history/medications, I'm still liable for the advice I'm doling out.
Oh, and I can't bill for it either.
I have used a Google Voice number in rare cases where I wanted a patient to be able to reach me. I emphasize to them that it is NOT private as Google transcribes all messages to [non-secure] e-mail. I tell them to just leave their first name and phone number as we both already know the subject of their call.
ReplyDeleteI would not mind giving this Google Voice number to all patients but agree with Cisco -- I worry about the liability and inability to delve into the patient's chart. In addition, every call should be documented in the chart and even 5-10 quick calls a week would significantly add to my already untenably long charting time.
If liability were a non-issue then I'd be ok with it provided the patients understood (and signed an agreement) to call 911 or go to the ER for any emergency or if they reached my voicemail.
Whenever I call patients outside of office hours from home I use the Google Voice number to make the call.
I have used a Google Voice number in rare cases where I wanted a patient to be able to reach me. I emphasize to them that it is NOT private as Google transcribes all messages to [non-secure] e-mail. I tell them to just leave their first name and phone number as we both already know the subject of their call.
ReplyDeleteI would not mind giving this Google Voice number to all patients but agree with Cisco -- I worry about the liability and inability to delve into the patient's chart. In addition, every call should be documented in the chart and even 5-10 quick calls a week would significantly add to my already untenably long charting time.
If liability were a non-issue then I'd be ok with it provided the patients understood (and signed an agreement) to call 911 or go to the ER for any emergency or if they reached my voicemail.
Whenever I call patients outside of office hours from home I use the Google Voice number to make the call.
No offense, I want my peace and privacy away from doctors. You do "your thing" and I'll do mine.
ReplyDeleteI had my internist call *once* from her cell phone. Other than that, she's been good enough to give me space. If I have a question, God invented the patient portal, the telephone during work hours, and ER if absolutely needed.
I happened to have been at a store that got in chocolate covered strawberries and I bought her and her nurse one with dark chocolate. Part of this is for leaving me in peace after 4 or 5 pm alarm bell.
I had a surgeon who violated it more than once. I even flat out said don't call. So he calls and wakes me up. This was after a week, I thought he got the hint! OMB.
Absolutely NOT. The reasons have already been appropriately stated above: privacy, abusive patients, and liability among them. Don't do it.
ReplyDeleteMy surgeon gave me his cell number while I was in recovery, I told him was out of his mind and he needed to stop giving it out. He laughed and said patients rarely called him. I never used it. Did have to call my husband's ortho once (during the day) once on his cell.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fine to give out the number at your own discretion when you want to. When you're picking the patient and the situation on a case by case basis. But it absolutely shouldn't be a mandated requirement.
ReplyDeletelol just give patients the Medical Director's cell # ! He won't mind.
ReplyDeleteNo way! They have our secretary's number to get messages to us. I gave out my personal mobile number to a hospital switch instead of a bleep and 4 years after leaving, I still get calls from them!
ReplyDeleteAnd yet another thought ... I think as a woman in our society we are vulnerable and targeted in a way men don't always keep in mind. ... That alone is a reason to never give out your number. And if you won't give it to men is it fair to give it to women? ... No. Stupid suggestion.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds a little like this medical director is getting a bonus for improving patient satisfaction and is sacrificing his colleagues for that end. Lame.
ReplyDeleteUhhh, hell no. Not for any regular patient.
ReplyDeleteHand out your phone number every time? That sounds like a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteThe Medic Mind
I feel awkward as an RN holding onto a MDs personal cell even if it was for work - once my shift is over and I'm not going to get that patient again I shred it.
ReplyDelete