Orders and Callbacks

[ProBeeRN, BSN, RN]

Background: our agency has 2 wocns who make wound recommendations based on pictures we take in the field. When recommendations are made it is the case managers (me) responibility to call the doc and write the new orders.

If I am calling the doctor for routine matters like this I leave my cell phone for callback in order to cut out the middle man (agency).

This is because 1. I actually know what's going on in the case and 2. Our intake folks who take add orders do not know what orders I'm looking for. The bad news is that leaving my cell phone leads to phone calls from docs on days off. So my voicemail has a very polite message stating to not leave a message there but to call intake (with direct number)with the orders if I do not pick up the phone.

Today I am wrist deep in wound care and my phone rings. The doctor then leaves a vm saying quite snarkily that "this was the number you left for callbacks so I am calling this number. Call my office back.". So I do. Naturally they're at lunch.

Any ideas on improving the nurse-doctor phone relationship? We are a huge agency (400 nurses). Leaving my cell is the easiest way to streamline care and case manage but hello!? I can't man the phone 24/7.

[anticoagulationurse]

I prefer to fax things for this very reason.

[caliotter3]

I prefer to fax things for this very reason.

This is a good alternative. It gets to the office in the same amount of time from your standpoint and you have a copy of your fax for suspense purposes. I started mailing material from the field with a copy to the office one time when I was especially fed up with getting no followup when sending through the office. I usually work nights or PMs, so for the most part calling is not an option for me.