Giving my cell phone number to patients

[4Eyes]

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A few times now, my attending docs have asked (told?) me to give my cell phone number to patients in case they have any problems.

I have mixed feelings on this. What do you think?

First of all, I feel awkward giving my personal number to patients, especially when I'm not establishing a real "doctor-patient relationship" with them. I'm fortunate if I ever see the same patient twice, so they're pretty much strangers. Yes, I understand I will need a way for my patients to reach me after I'm in practice, but I imagine I'll have a separate line or a pager for this purpose.

Secondly, I feel awkward giving them advice or instructions without an OD around. Yes, I think I would generally know what to tell them (I've only actually had a patient call me once), but can I legally give patients instructions like this? I've just been curious. I do have the ODs' cell phone numbers to call them and ask any questions I may have and let them know what's going on.

Do other students do this? Do any of the ODs give patients their personal numbers, or do they keep it separate somehow?

 

[Ben Chudner]

A few times now, my attending docs have asked (told?) me to give my cell phone number to patients in case they have any problems.

I have mixed feelings on this. What do you think?

First of all, I feel awkward giving my personal number to patients, especially when I'm not establishing a real "doctor-patient relationship" with them. I'm fortunate if I ever see the same patient twice, so they're pretty much strangers. Yes, I understand I will need a way for my patients to reach me after I'm in practice, but I imagine I'll have a separate line or a pager for this purpose.

Secondly, I feel awkward giving them advice or instructions without an OD around. Yes, I think I would generally know what to tell them (I've only actually had a patient call me once), but can I legally give patients instructions like this? I've just been curious. I do have the ODs' cell phone numbers to call them and ask any questions I may have and let them know what's going on.

Do other students do this? Do any of the ODs give patients their personal numbers, or do they keep it separate somehow?

Do not give out your cell number to patients. Do not give medical advice without an OD around. If you were to give advice over the phone to a patient, it could be considered practicing without a license. Your school should have an emergency number for patients to use. Give them that number. Once you graduate, you will have to decide if you want patients to have your personal cell number. I use my cell phone as a pager, so I do give it out to patients and it is on my answering machine.

 

[4Eyes]

Thank you for confirming what I was thinking. I may discuss this with the dean. I was surprised/uncomfortable when I was told to do this, but I did it because I wanted to do what the attending said. Then I started thinking...wait....

 

[Ben Chudner]

Thank you for confirming what I was thinking. I may discuss this with the dean. I was surprised/uncomfortable when I was told to do this, but I did it because I wanted to do what the attending said. Then I started thinking...wait....

I didn't even notice the first part of your post. Attendings are telling you to give out your cell phone number? 😱 Technically, these patients are not yours, they are the attending doctor's since he/she is overseeing the care. If anything, you should give the attending doctor's cell phone number. At least he/she is licensed to practice optometry.

 

[KHE]

I didn't even notice the first part of your post. Attendings are telling you to give out your cell phone number? 😱 Technically, these patients are not yours, they are the attending doctor's since he/she is overseeing the care. If anything, you should give the attending doctor's cell phone number. At least he/she is licensed to practice optometry.

I agree with everything Dr. Chudner said. Under no circumstance should you as a student give out your cell phone number to patients.

Since I graduated, I have given my cell phone number (and on a few occasions even my home number) for patients to get in touch with me in the event of an emergency. Not a single patient ever abused that so I'm comfortable doing it but as a student you should not do it and frankly it was inappropriate for your instructor to even suggest it.

 

[rpames]

I agree, the next time they ask you to give your number out, you need to say no. I agree that you would be practicing w/o a license. I graduated this year and have been seeing patients in my father's office with him in the building. I have an OD, but I never see or speak to patients unless he is in the building. I don't have business cards out, or my name on anything yet. That is because I do not have a license yet.

 

[cpw]

I agree, the next time they ask you to give your number out, you need to say no. I agree that you would be practicing w/o a license. I graduated this year and have been seeing patients in my father's office with him in the building. I have an OD, but I never see or speak to patients unless he is in the building. I don't have business cards out, or my name on anything yet. That is because I do not have a license yet.

make sure you're not signing the charts !! (or at least have dad co-sign)

I definitely agree with the others that you should NOT give patients your cell phone number. You're not licensed and are opening your school up to HUGE liability if you tell a patient something wrong. I would definitely talk to your Dean about this.

I give my number out on very rare occasions, but my # is listed on the answering machine at work since I used my cell phone as my pager.

 

[4Eyes]

Yeah, the OD always signs off on the charts.

Update: I emailed the Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs. He said it probably wasn't a problem as long as I'm not giving the patient new instructions, just reminding them what they were told when they were in the clinic if they couldn't remember or didn't understand. Hmm.

BUT then he followed that up by suggesting we not give out our personal number...he said he would talk to the faculty about this. They will be told that we shouldn't be asked to give out our number and that the clinic line should be given out instead (though I'm not even sure what the recording says after hours...I'm always at a satellite clinic).

 

[drbizzaro]

Yeah, the OD always signs off on the charts.

Update: I emailed the Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs. He said it probably wasn't a problem as long as I'm not giving the patient new instructions, just reminding them what they were told when they were in the clinic if they couldn't remember or didn't understand. Hmm.

BUT then he followed that up by suggesting we not give out our personal number...he said he would talk to the faculty about this. They will be told that we shouldn't be asked to give out our number and that the clinic line should be given out instead (though I'm not even sure what the recording says after hours...I'm always at a satellite clinic).

it seems like the assitant dean wasn't really thinking too far ahead in terms of law-suits and such... if it seems like he hasn't done anything in terms of talking with faculty (sometimes people never follow through) - you should let him know that a law suit would easily bring trouble for the school...

 

[4Eyes]

Yeah, I thought he'd be all for being conservative about it since he's all about erring on the side of caution when it comes to HIPAA issues. 😕

In any case, I guess I'm just going to have to cover my own rear...and urge my classmates to do the same. Even if a lawsuit is unlikely...I'm not going to school for four years and taking on this kind of debt to take chances like that.

I'm not sure I'd find out if he said anything to faculty unless I heard it through the grapevine. But he did give me license to blame him if I want (not that I would mind sharing) when I refuse to give my number out again (if I'm asked).

 

[Elfego Baca]

I can't believe that you attendings are stupid enough to tell you to give a patient your cell phone number. I'm sure they don't give out their personal cell phone numbers to patients. Have you ever been to an MD or a dentist who gave you his or her cell phone number?? If your attending is into Kumbaya s**t on this level, let them give the patient THEIR personal phone number.