I received this comment from a reader:
Yes it is annoying. For a patient who answers the phone while I am talking to them because they feel they waited too long for me, I tell them I apologize for being late, but that all my patients were talking on their cell phones.
Hi,
I am a hospitalist too and was wondering if you had any comments on patients answering cell phones or even their room phones while you are talking to them. I am so, so, so sick of being in the middle of examining the patient or giving them the explanation they say they want to have them answer their phone in the middle of the conversation. This is in the hospital, not in the office where they can claim that they "waited 2 hours to see me so I just have to wait for them". I just can't find much about it on all the medical blogs and was wondering what you thought. Thanks.
Yes it is annoying. For a patient who answers the phone while I am talking to them because they feel they waited too long for me, I tell them I apologize for being late, but that all my patients were talking on their cell phones.
For patients on the phone when I walk in that don't hang up, or answer the phone while I'm talking to them (to carry on a full conversion), I interrupt their call and say
"I'm sorry to interrupt you. I will be back in 1-2 hours."
That is just absurd, not to mention totally rude. i would never take a call (if i got one) while a physican was there with me. i don't know why, but this situation infuiates me!!!! The rudness is beyond...!!!!!! :P
ReplyDeletePS Okay, i have calmed down-a bit. i loved your respones, Dr. Happy. :)
ReplyDeletewhoa nelly in the interest of our press gainey's the nurses would be expected to dial the phones for said patients where i work...a little envious you can actually respond to rude behavior...good for you
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do when the Doctor's cell phone rings and he chats with someone on your dime? It's even worse when the secretary keeps interrupting to report various things. Rudeness can go both ways and neither are good.
ReplyDeletewhen doctors talk on phone, it depends i work for 24 hours on a ER, i can tell you this if one of my relatives is dying and dont answer the phone i wont noticed they are dying for sure, i try to tell my family this while im working dont try to call me at least if it is important. but when you work for 24 hours is logical to answer at least one call. im not talking about being abusive, im the kind of doctor that doesnt like being called while working but sometimes you have to.
ReplyDeletehappy did you really do that????? men i would like have your guts.
ReplyDeleteHi Happy - I'm the one who wrote the initial comment. I read often but have never commented. I just thought I was going to lose it when this happened three times in one day. Thanks for the rapid response.
ReplyDeleteI've tried the direct approach but to be honest, I'm not really good at being assertive, and I just end up feeling uncomfortable and that they are not going to lend any credence to what I say. I am a young female, and I wonder if that has something to do with it. My favorite is when they answer the phone and say "I don't know what the doctor thinks, I haven't seen him in a few days." Honest to God it happens at least once every two weeks.
I absolutely do not take personal calls when I am in the patients room. I do have a work cell phone which only my colleagues have the number for and I also do not answer that when I am in the room. Only rarely will I step out if I called a consult and have been waiting awhile for the call back. We all have an understanding that the work cell phone won't be answered half the time. If I get paged, I check to see if it is the ICU or an unstable patient, but do not stop to return every page within 2 minutes either. I guess I just expect the same courtesy from patients. Yes, I know they are sick and bored all day...I have been a patient too and have been in that position (I hate it when people tell me that I wouldn't understand the patient's point of view). But boy, I sure wish we could go back to the days of cell phones interfering with life-saving equipment.
slightly disgruntled. If you have any interest in blogging email me.
ReplyDeleteHappy
My gripe is more with seeing someone in their office, having waited a month for the appointment and an hour in the waiting room and then to have their pager constantly going off and their nurse breaking in not once but twice to see about "Mr. X's films".
ReplyDeleteLike "Mr. X." couldn't wait until said Dr. was finished with me -- sucker patient?
That said I don't even answer the phone in my office when co-workers come by to talk with me. In the electronic age face-to-face trumps all.