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FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS:
Section on Telephone Care and Committee on Child Health Financing
Payment for Telephone Care
Pediatrics 2006; 118: 1768-1773 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetters] Telephone Triage
Hemendra S Parikh   (10 October 2006)

Telephone Triage 10 October 2006
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Hemendra S Parikh,
Pediatrician
St Anthony's Hospital

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Re: Telephone Triage

hemuparikh{at}hotmail.com Hemendra S Parikh

As a practicing pediatrician, we make subtle judgements when we receive a call from the parent seeking opinion. Not only what is said, but who says it, and how it is said, all go in to mix of determining what is the appropriate advise and follow up. By framing a policy we take out this art form and enter a legal parameter that may be varifyable, but only a small part of the service. The academy should really promote the use of '900' numbers for the medical advise if the patients desire a service. Thus the insurance will not have to pay for it, and the desirous patients/parents will be able to obtain the services bringing the market forces and the consumer responsibility in the mix. And why should the patient not be seen the next day if he received a paid telephone advise? The service met its purpose by increasing the patient comfort and decreasing the cost of the ER visit. Even the patients who are asked to go to the ER same day received the service and therefore the provider needs to be reimbursed. I am not sure what was the evidence to say that the telephone service provided for these type of situations need not be reimbursed.

Conflict of Interest:

None declared