Biomaterial Database

The nature and management of telephone utilization in a family practice setting. 1979

P M Fischer, and S R Smith

Study of the telephone practice in four family practice settings reveals a complex interaction between patients, physicians, and receptionists. Patients present a limited number of complaints--80 percent of complaints represent 25 common chief complaints, and 95 percent represent 50 chief complaints. Little difference was observed between the symptoms reported by patients to the physicians as compared to those received by the receptionist staff. Physicians are more likely to use the telephone contact to treat the patient's complaint with home care advice or a prescription. Receptionists are more likely to use the telephone contact for scheduling an office visit.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D008496	Medical Receptionists	Individuals who receive patients in a medical office.	Medical Receptionist,Receptionist, Medical,Receptionists, Medical
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011216	Practice Management, Medical	The organization and operation of the business aspects of a physician's practice.	Medical Practice Management Services,Management, Medical Practice,Medical Practice Management,Practice Management Services, Medical,Managements, Medical Practice,Medical Practice Managements,Practice Managements, Medical
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003237	Connecticut	State bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Rhode Island, on the south by Long Island Sound, and on the west by New York.
D003933	Diagnosis	The determination of the nature of a disease or condition, or the distinguishing of one disease or condition from another. Assessment may be made through physical examination, laboratory tests, or the likes. Computerized programs may be used to enhance the decision-making process.	Diagnose,Diagnoses and Examination,Antemortem Diagnosis,Diagnoses and Examinations,Examinations and Diagnoses,Postmortem Diagnosis,Antemortem Diagnoses,Diagnoses,Diagnoses, Antemortem,Diagnoses, Postmortem,Diagnosis, Antemortem,Diagnosis, Postmortem,Examination and Diagnoses,Postmortem Diagnoses