Paging the doctor after hours DO’S and DO NOTS

In the interests of the highest quality medicine, we are one of the few practices in the greater Boston area that does not “cross cover” for other practices. We are on call for our patient whenever the office is closed.

DO

1. GO TO THE ER IMMEDIATELY, IF YOU ARE HAVING A SEVERE ALLERGIC OR ASTHMATIC REACTION – DO NOT WAIT FOR A CALL BACK FROM THE DOCTOR.

2. Call if you are having a problem that cannot wait until the next work day. You may leave a message on the on call physician voice mail box @ 978- 256-4531 after hours and this will be paged out automatically. Remember to spell out your last name, state the first and last name of the patient, date of birth, and your phone number. In addition you may Text Message the doctor’s pager at (978) 245-0141 by using your phone, or computer (www.usamobility.com) and click on send a message. Please include a call back number and your name in the text message.

3. On weekends/ holidays call only for medications refills such as inhalers that cannot wait until the next workday. These will be filled before noon only on Saturday and Sunday.

4. Expect a follow up office visit, if you have contacted the doctor after hours

5. Notify the office if you are having problems reaching the on call doctor

DO NOT

1. Call for routine prescriptions if you have not been seen in the past year or are not a patient of the practice.

2. PAGE THE DOCTOR FOR ROUTINE PRESCRIPTIONS

3. EXPECT A CALL BACK FOR PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS, INSTEAD CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACY.

4. Expect antibiotics or prednisone to be called in without being seen

5. Expect multiple refills or 90 day prescriptions to be called in after hours

6. Expect narcotic medications to be called in.

7. Abuse the after hours on call system.

8. Expect the on call physician to routinely have access to your medical record on weekends as the server may be down for maintenance or occasionally we have internet connectivity issues