Literature
首页Englishpregnancy and familyGeneral Health

Cross Coverage

来源:www.webmd.com
摘要:Theanswercanaffectyouandyourfamily‘shealthandwell-being。SofromFridayeveninguntilMondaymorning--almost40%ofthehoursinaweek?yourmedicalcaremaywellbeinthehandsofaphysicianotherthanyourprimarydoctor。WhenIaskedDidionforherthoughtsaboutcrosscover......

点击显示 收起

Most people probably don't give much thought to their doctors' free time. But how exactly do they manage busy patient loads and still have weekends and vacations? The answer can affect you and your family's health and well-being.

Many physicians belong to a "coverage group": One physician temporarily takes care of all of the group's patients. So from Friday evening until Monday morning -- almost 40% of the hours in a week ? your medical care may well be in the hands of a physician other than your primary doctor.

What do patients need to know about cross coverage?

Hospitalized Patients

Many relay races are lost by a poor handoff of the baton. So, for hospitalized patients and their families, the key issue is ensuring a smooth transition of care over the weekend. As a patient, you are entitled to know that there is a well-informed "captain of the ship" on board at all times. So be sure you know who this is -- ask ahead of time.

Over a weekend, the covering doctor becomes the surrogate for the primary doctor and the chain of command remains intact. In The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion writes brilliantly about her ordeal dealing with the illnesses and deaths of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and her daughter, Quintana. When I asked Didion for her thoughts about cross coverage, she mentioned that she felt reassured by seeing her primary physician's name on John's medical bracelet when he was in the hospital. The label symbolically tagged her husband as being under the protection of a respected doctor who was ultimately calling the shots.

"I don't know why but this point about the bracelet matters. So much in a hospital happens in the fog of war that you want at least a symbolic line of command, legible to everybody who happens into the case. More often than you might think, the patient's relatives are left to catch up a new doctor on some key point."

What should you and/or your family ask your doctor before the weekend rolls around?

Outpatient Care

Let's switch to the outpatient setting. It's Friday evening and you develop a burning feeling in your chest. You call your physician and are told he is "off call" for the weekend. Planning ahead will help you and the covering doctor make sure good care continues.

Remember that weekend coverage is for urgent problems. But do not hesitate to call if you are not sure whether a problem is truly urgent. However, do not ask for a second opinion about a chronic, nonurgent issue that your regular doctor is already addressing.

Of course, the best strategy is to stay perfectly healthy from Friday to Sunday and during your doctor's vacations. But if you do encounter an off-hour health problem, understanding how to deal with the cross-coverage system can help to keep your medical journey smooth.


Published August 2006.

作者: JonathanLaPook,MD 2006-8-25
医学百科App—中西医基础知识学习工具
  • 相关内容
  • 近期更新
  • 热文榜
  • 医学百科App—健康测试工具