Telephone Medicine: A Guide for the Practicing Physician

The telephone is now a significant component of medical care: 25% of encounters between primary care physicians and patients involve its use. Successful telephone medicine improves the rapport between doctor and patient, increases access to care, enhances patient satisfaction, and lowers patient and physician costs. Telephone medicine is no longer just renewing prescriptions. A telephone call can clarify issues raised during the office visit, help patients with decisions about their health care at home, prevent unnecessary emergency department visits, and communicate test results quickly and personally. Telephone Medicine: A Guide for the Practicing Physician provides clinicians with a solid understanding of what telephone medicine is and the many ways it can improve patient care. Primary care physicians, in particular, will benefit from the emphasis on evidence-based approaches to telephone management of common symptoms, such as chest and abdominal pain, sore throat, headache, and depression. Other topics include communication skills, medicolegal issues, difficult patient types, documentation, and office management