Of course, patients are entitled to medical care around the clock. You would not expect to show up at 2:00 a.m. at an emergency room to find a ‘Closed’ sign. If you are having chest pain on a weekend, and you call your doctor’s office, you should expect a prompt response from a living and breathing medical doctor. Patients are aware that when they call the doctor at night, that they are unlikely to reach their own doctor. Similarly, when a patient is admitted to the hospital, they will likely be attended to by a hospitalist, not the primary care physician. Such is the reality of medical practice today. No Patient Zone at Hospital Here are 3 types of after hour calls that merit mentioning. (1)One of my partner’s patients calls me because the diarrhea is still not better and it’s been more than 3 months. While I completely understand the frustrated patient’s rationale for calling, there’s not much I can do in these circumstances. It is generally not helpful to call a
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.