Log book for phone calls...

tablefor9, RN · Feb 13, 2011

We do not keep a log book, because our hospital mandated response has to be, "We can not assess and provide medical advice over the phone, if you have concerns, please come in for assessment."

That is not to say that some of us don't deviate from this, but there you go.

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Feb 13, 2011

I've never seen a hospital that allowed any kind of medical information to be given by phone. As nurses, we're set up because we want to help people and answer their call for help. The problem is that if the person were able to competently evaluate the patient, then they wouldn't need to call in the first place. So you're stuck with a question based on a questionable assesment of a patient you can't see nor get a basic history and vital signs on. If you give advice as we all want to, you're liable for the results, and it just gets so messy from there on.

I've suggested keeping a log book of such calls, including the callers identification information. I thought most people would decline giving contact information, ending the call. The others we could do a simple phone triage but always end with telling the person we must suggest they see a doctor or go to the ER of their choice.

Long answer to your question. Hope it helps.

P B and J · Feb 13, 2011

This may not totally apply to a hospital, but I think it might be pertinent. A doctors office I dealt with supposedly kept logs of phone calls. Later while in malpractice litigation, they denied that the patient had ever called. Then the patient produced prescriptions that had been called in per the phone calls, which significantly damaged their case. The patient won, largely based on the fact that the supposed logs that the office was to keep were not kept properly, if they can't keep logs of phone calls accurately, what else are they slacking on?

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2011

We aren't allowed to give any advice over the phone. For a recently discharged kid we give them to the fellow, otherwise, we tell them that we can't see the baby over the phone, therefore we can't advise them anything. We tell them to either call 911 if they feel it is an emergency or/and We then transfer them to the nurse on call line which records and logs all calls and they use their decision tree. This was mandated from our legal department.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 14, 2011

When I worked in the nursery and got phone calls I let the Mom talk then advised she contact her MD. It is not a good idea to give advice over the phone.