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ER nurses no longer giving medical advice over the phoneFor reasons both legal and logistical, the New Ulm Medical Center emergency department has discontinued providing individuals with medical advice over the telephone. In March, emergency department nurses stopped giving advice to individuals calling looking for a quick diagnosis, said Julie Halvorson, Manager of Emergency Services. “I’ve been here for 23 years and it’s always been the expectation that nurses give advice to callers,” she said. “Despite it carrying some legal risk, it was an accepted practice. The nurses used protocols to guide their advice.” As volumes in the emergency department increased, it became more and more difficult to spend time with individuals on the phone. “The patients in the department are our first priority, we don’t want to interrupt their care in order to give someone else telephone advice.” Additionally, the legal risks of giving advice over the telephone is becoming more significant. Very few emergency departments give advice anymore because of that. “It’s in the best interest of the individual to be seen by a physician. It’s not good medical management to try addressing someone’s concerns over the telephone.” Since the practice ended, anyone calling the emergency department for advice is informed that nurses no longer give advice and are encouraged to come to the emergency department to be seen by a physician. Halvorson encourages individuals to look to other resources for medical information, such as the Internet, reference books or calling their physicians during clinic hours. There are numerous websites where people can go to learn about illnesses or injuries. Parents who have children born at New Ulm Medical Center receive a book titled What to Expect the First Year. “The book provides a wealth of information related to childhood illness and injury and I would encourage parents to refer to the book as a resource,” Halvorson added. Several recommended internet sites include: www.medformation.com www.webmd.com www.mayoclinic.com  Back to Health Edition |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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