Refusing the On-Call doctor

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in LTC.

What happens in your ED if you have a patient that is going to be admitted to let's say the renal floor. The patient asks you who the on call renal doc is that is going to be admitting them.You tell them who it is and they say the won't let that doctor treat them; please call someone else. What is your ED's policy?

A little background: this patient was in full blown renal failure. New for her. She is a nurse and used to work with the nephro doc that was on call. She had valid reasons for not wanting him to treat her.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Since she's a nurse, did she have another doc in mind? I would start there, and make sure whoever she has in mind has privileges at your facility. Unless this is the only nephro doc that has privileges at your hospital? In that case, her chosen doc would have to accept her, and arrangements would have to be made to transfer her to the other facility.

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Specializes in LTC.

She didn't have one in mind, bu there are many nephrologists on staff. We just called one and explained the situation. He wasn't happy about it, but he did it.

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

I am not sure what the policy is...but I do know that I have a couple surgeons that if I came in and they were on...I would take my chances to sit on antibiotics until I could get someone else...cause I am sure my outcome would better than having said MD cut me open..

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

We had this come up once in awhile when I worked OB. If the patient refused the on-call doc, it was her responsibility to find another physician who would accept her care. We gave her a list and a phone.

The other alternative was a transfer to another facility.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
What happens in your ED if you have a patient that is going to be admitted to let's say the renal floor. The patient asks you who the on call renal doc is that is going to be admitting them.You tell them who it is and they say the won't let that doctor treat them; please call someone else. What is your ED's policy?

A little background: this patient was in full blown renal failure. New for her. She is a nurse and used to work with the nephro doc that was on call. She had valid reasons for not wanting him to treat her.

She had a valid reason and another doctor. I see nothing wrong with this other than the fact that I'm sure you have six other balls in the air at the time. (I work ED also.) But what it comes down to is that she didn't feel comfortable with the admitting doc and has the right to choose who she gets. I'm glad that the other doc came in, even if he was all grumbly to the staff. (And I bet he was all smiles when seeing the patient, no doubt...)

Blee

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Since she's a nurse, did she have another doc in mind? I would start there, and make sure whoever she has in mind has privileges at your facility. Unless this is the only nephro doc that has privileges at your hospital? In that case, her chosen doc would have to accept her, and arrangements would have to be made to transfer her to the other facility.

I am confused, BBFRN. The OP says the patient refused the doctor, not that the doctor refused the patient.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Yes, that was my understanding, too. Now I'm confused :chuckle

My advice was to ask the pt who she wanted to take over her care, and to contact that doc to arrange it...noting it would be a little more complicated if the chosen doc didn't have privileges at that facility. I was also bearing in mind that is was a weekend (chosen attending may not be too happy about adding a new patient to see, when he was not the on call doc).

Can you elaborate? Maybe I didn't word my post clearly?

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