Objective: To analyze the frequency and nature of after-hours calls to endocrinology fellows and employ interventions to direct appropriate care to primary endocrinologists.
Methods: The on-call fellows logged calls that came to them during the after-hours and marked them as urgent or nonurgent. We analyzed these calls and then implemented interventions to educate patients on calls that can wait until the next business day. We also trained providers to provide script refills during clinic visits and educated fellows on how to best manage and document these after-hours calls.
Results: From July to August 2017, 100 calls were logged. The average number of calls per 24 hours was 1.61, and 47% were marked nonurgent. From January to March 2018, the fellows logged 0.64 calls per 24 hours, and 51% were logged as nonurgent. Most of these calls were for insulin and testing supply refills.
Conclusion: Many after-hours calls to the fellows were nonurgent and could have waited until the next business day. Our continuing interventions aim at improving both physician and patient satisfaction, as well as patient care.