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Call Coverage
What guidelines should I follow when covering call for another physician?
We recommend that you:
- Be sure the covering physician is of the same specialty or competent in the particular area of medicine.
- Provide backup consultants.
- Advise hospitalized patients of covering physicians and the length of time they will be covering.
- Verify the covering physician's hospital privileges, the procedures he/she is credentialed for and his/her familiarity with hospital routines.
- Review hospitalized patients' current status and any problems with the covering physician.
- Caution the covering physician against prescribing or refilling medication over the telephone. When a refill is necessary, advise the covering physician to prescribe only enough medication to last until the primary physician returns.
- Advise the covering physician of the office patients who may call and require attention.
- After returning, discuss with the covering physician any changes in condition, therapies or special situations, etc.
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The risk management advice presented in this Site is intended as general information of interest to physicians and other healthcare professionals. The recommendations and advice published on this Site do not reflect or establish a standard of care and do not establish rules for the practice of medicine. The publication of this information is not intended as an offer to insure such conditions or exposures, or to indicate that MAG Mutual Insurance Company will underwrite such risks for the reader. Our liability is limited to the specific written terms and conditions of actual insurance policies issued.
