Telephone medical care of patients with HIV/AIDS.

ABSTRACT

It has been reported that primary care physicians make 27% of their patient contacts by telephone. With the knowledge that more than 90% of the population has access to a telephone, it is reasonable to propose that the telephone might be employed in a more structured and organized manner for improved, cost-effective medical care. In the current study, two diverse practices (multiphysician and university-affiliated HIV/AIDS clinic, private practice specializing in HIV/AIDS care), both of which used the telephone as having a central role in patient management, were critically observed and reported through three case reports. The results indicate that personnel other than the primary physician provider, such as the triage nurse, may handle a large percentage of calls and successfully manage numerous psychologic and health care issues for the patient, referring, when necessary, appropriate medical inquiries to the physician. It is recommended that physicians take the time to construct sound protocols for clinic personnel to manage patient inquiries by telephone.