Phone Call Documentation: Why it’s important, What to document and Where to Record it

In this blog post we’re going to look at: why phone documentation is important; what should be documented and where should the records be kept.

It is important when a patient calls and asks a question to make sure that whether that patient speaks to the first staff member or the second staff member, everyone needs to be on one accord to consistently and seamlessly help for a better patient experience.
By making and sharing notes about phone communication, it will not only help each employee’s memory of their previous conversations, but it will also help to inform other staff members what had previously been discussed.

And so, these records are important so that everyone remembers what was discussed. And also, so there’s good communication between different office staff members which makes for a better patient experience.

The other benefit is that the patient doesn’t have to repeat themselves over again each time they call. It’s much better if whoever answers the phone is already familiar with the patient’s concerns.

Also, having this documentation helps to avoid any later “he said, she said” situations when the patient or the staff member doesn’t have a clear memory of what happened. If it’s documented, there’ll be a more accurate reference to refer to at any point in the
future.