Calling a doctor question.

[iwashere]

Ok quick question. I know there will probably be varying answers depending on area/age/etc. but anyway. Ok so when I call a doctor at home and his wife answers is saying "Hello may I please speak with Dr. ******" an appropriate greeting? The reason I ask is because I was told by an older nurse that this is innapropriate and I need to say Hello this is soandso calling from soandso may I please speak to dr ********. I feel this is excessive seeing as how I am going to identify myself and where I am callng from as soon as the doctor gets on the phone. She thinks it is necessary so that the wife dosent "get mad or think anthing." (This is referring to a Dr that we call very frequently). So is my greeting completely out of line or is she just old fashioned?

[ebear, BSN, RN]

I also agree with full introduction.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

That's so funny. We page our docs. On the off chance we call instead, it's a personal cell. They know it's "us" from the visible phone number (direct extension) so we just say, "hey, Dr x, it's suz" and get to the point.

[Jenni811, RN]

i identify myself when speaking to the doctor, but when speaking to his wife...i highly doubt she cares if my name is Jenni, or if it is Beatrice. The doctor may want to know, because he may need to call me back "Can i speak to jenni? who is taking care of Mr. jones." So im not saying dont identify yourself...just the family, the maid, the butler...or WHOEVER answers the phone could caree less what your name is and what your job title is. All they need to know is you are someone from the hospital that needs to speak to a doctor.

Yea, plus we are supposed to call their personal cell phones given to them by hospital (iphones). So we always get the doc directly now days. buuut i can think of one doctor who refuses to use it because he doesn't know how to work it. So he gets really really upset if the hospital calls his work phone because then he has to figure out who paged him since he doesn't know how to answer it. Smart guy...but he can't use his iphone to save his life.

[RN1485, BSN]

I also agree with a full introduction even if the wife answers. I think it's more professional, plus it allows the wife to tell the husband who's calling so he can decide whether or not he wants to take the call right away.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

Always polite to state where your from to all parties.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

We call personal cells. He answers Doctor Insert last name. I usually say Hi dr, its Mandychelle79 from facility. Then proceed.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

I would do a whole speech introduction about " this is nurse from blah blah" but good god this post makes me glad for text pages and the dr returns the call at his/her discretion

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

the screening of calls does not appear to be an issue in this case

It may or may not have to do with screening calls but it has everything to do with professionalism. One of my personal pet peeves are the marketing calls that play my friend or acquaintance. In this day of informal electronic communication the use of proper etiquette is lost. Manners matter. It is not "old fashioned" it professional.

Even when they answer I still will say Hi Dr. Blah. This is Blah from the ED at Blah. Not every facility has just their own Md's. There are places where the MD is on staff at several hospitals and the identification is not only polite but necessary.

Professional phone etiquette.....Hi! This is Blah calling from the ED at Blah Blah Blah. May I please speak with Dr.Blah. Thank You.

[jt43]

Short answer: Your greeting isn't completely out of line and her suggestion isn't old fashioned. You have a difference of opinion. Bigger issue: Why do you want to get into/perpetuate a conflict with your coworker over this issue? It seems to me that your coworkers request/suggestion isn't going to hurt your patients or you in any significant way. So why do you want to push the issue? That is a much better question to ask yourself imo.

[Hygiene Queen]

So, when a child answers or a wife answers...trust me when i say they are USED TO IT. We had caller ID, i know its the hospital calling...they don't need to waste 5 mintues of my life identifying themselves. i know its you, i know its the hospital, i know who your looking for...just get to the point :)

I don't think a quick, but polite intro takes that long, lol.

I do feel somewhat... I don't know... sad? worried? that (in a world that can be so rude and impatient) a person is considered to be "wasting 5 minutes" of someone's life just being courteous.

But then, my father owned a motorcycle shop and you should have heard some of the phone calls we took!

Beer, anyone?

So, I would have gladly dealt with a little common courtesy!

I think there are several things to note:

1) I can't assume who knows what on the other end of the line

2) Intros should be complete, but yes, quick and to the point (thanks for the insider's view, Jenni811)

And (yes, I'm going there)...

3) Younger folks don't know how to properly use a phone.

Cheers,

Mrs. H. Queen

Old Fart

:)

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

Courtesy dictates the following:

Introduce yourself(name, title, location)

Whom you are trying to contact

A one-sentence summary of your need (i.e. "I have a question regarding a patient...")

Whether another approach is, "currently accepted", or not, it is not professionally accepted(sure, it will pass many places, but so will walking into a room, smacking gum and smelling of fresh fart). Do it the right way. The same way. Every single time.

OP, you aren't "wrong", but neither is it the best professional standard.

[iwashere]

Woooww... You are so of base in regards to my intent of this question. I asked to know if I was in the wrong so I could correct future calls to doctors homes if need be. NOT so that I could start a conflict with a coworker. I am not seeking advice to "prove her wrong" I just want to be appropriate and do my job right! This will not even be a topic I discuss with her any more in the future. I was just seeking the knowledge of a broader audience. Geeez maybe you should ask yourself why you would vilify your fellow bloggers intentions for what is actually just an innocent inquiry. That is a much better question to ask YOURSELF. LOLOLOL