When you send a patient home with a catheter and they have a question or concern, who so do they call? The 1-800 number in the product pamphlet? Do you have an on call anesthesiologist who can answer questions? For example: its leaking, Im not sure if its working right, my dressing peeled off, etc.
It is very important patients have access to someone to answer their questions. Our discharge instructions have cell phone numbers for myself, Dr. Winchester, and our regional anesthesia fellow. The nurse circles the name of who did the procedure so they can call them first but they have access to all of us if they do not get an immediate answer. They also have the 1-800 number to the pump manufacturer which has 24 hour coverage for calls also. So we are basically on call 24/7 but the calls are minimal and I have done this since 2007. I have answered calls in many cities all across the country while traveling. It is not a burden. You must have some kind of on call program to be available for these patients. After almost 11 years, 30,000 blocks, and 10,000 catheters we have not had one single emergent call.
Sincerely,
Greg
That’s great. Thank you. Are the discharge instructions something you all developed? I’d love to see a copy so we can have an example for ours. We have a block program but are just now incorporating continuous catheters.
We developed our own. One for an elastomeric pump and one for an electronic pump. Send me an email and I will send you a copy.
[email protected]
E-mail sent. Thank you!
Did you get what you were looking for? I can't remember if I received your email.
I to would like a copy of your discharge instructions if possible.
Electronic or elastomeric? Email me at: [email protected]