New to Home Health # 1 Pet Peave so far...

[Patchouli]

Trying to schedule appts with elderly pts that are HOH, and do not own an answering machine. Phone just rings and rings. Emergency contact is hubby, same darn number!

[CatHair]

It's not always HOH to blame. It can be a cultural barrier.

Try calling from a phone that has a callerID that shows the HHA on it if possible.

Or see if you can get the MD office to call them and tell them to expect a call from the Nurse.

I have a number of patients that won't answer the phone if they don't recognize the caller.

They are tired of robocallers and sales pitches using spoofed CallerID.

Calling from a cell phone that only shows "WIRELESS NUMBER" to them or something will get you nowhere. They just won't pick up.

Document your attempts in Comm Notes.

You may have to do a "drive-by" visit to set up an appointment for the first time.

I've had to do that for a few people that simply won't answer the phone.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Haha that sounds like my grandfather. Never owned more than a rotary phone and refused to buy an answering machine ever.

I don't have this problem since my patients are children and I don't deal with the elderly. The problem I have is an inner city population and parents who don't pay their cell phone bills. "This number is out of service" is a common recording I hear when trying to reach my patients' parents.

[CatHair]

"This number is out of service" is a common recording I hear when trying to reach my patients' parents.

I get more of those towards the end of the month as their Government issued LIFELINE cell phones run out of minutes.

1st of the month comes around, they get their 300 minutes again and all of a sudden they are accessible.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Same in school nursing

[toomuchbaloney]

I schedule the appointment during the previous visit.

I attempt to call and confirm.

I show up at appointed time and date unless patient cancels or reschedules.

If they are not at home I place a sealed envelope with my business card and a brief note about the missed appointment in the door.

Complete appropriate notifications and documentation and go on my way.