Call back time protocols for physicians

[rnmaggie]

We are in the process of setting up guidelines for appropriate timeframes for physicians to return phone calls to nursing staff in the hospital. Does anyone currently have policies/guidelines established in their facility? If so, I would appreciate if you could share the information.

Thanks

[TazziRN, RN]

Our docs have 20 minutes to respond if they are on call. If they don't respond after the second page and we can't find them via cell or home phones, we call the chief of staff. Depending on the issue, he may cover for that particular call or he may try to find us another doc willing to help out. The on call doc who didn't respond is written up.

If the doc is not on call but is the pt's PMD, they also have 20 minutes to respond. If they don't respond after the first page we call the on call doc.