RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Patient access to general practitioners by telephone: the doctor's view.
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 186
OP 189
VO 42
IS 358
A1 L Hallam
YR 1992
UL http://bjgp.org/content/42/358/186.abstract
AB Few general practitioners have extensive daytime telephone contacts with patients. Forty nine general practitioners responding to a postal survey who reported handling a mean of nine or more calls a day were interviewed about their experiences. The nature of telephone contacts with patients and the organizational strategies employed to minimize disruption to surgeries were explored. Views on the rewards and frustrations of being accessible by telephone and its impact on other aspects of workload were also sought. Recommendations are made for practices contemplating extending telephone access for patients.