1. Emergency Communication Protocol
Primary Response Steps
- Maintain 24/7 emergency phone line
- Establish backup physician coverage
- Document all emergency communications
Patient Emergency Contacts
- Keep updated emergency contact list for all members
- Maintain digital and physical copies
- Review quarterly for accuracy
2. Emergency Response Categories
Level 1: Immediate Life-Threatening
- Chest pain
- Severe breathing difficulty
- Stroke symptoms
- Severe trauma
Response: Direct to 911 + immediate physician notification
Level 2: Urgent Medical Issues
- Severe pain
- High fever
- Acute illness
- Minor trauma
Response: Physician assessment within 30 minutes
Level 3: Non-Emergency Issues
- Minor symptoms
- Medication questions
- Follow-up concerns
Response: Physician response within 2 hours
3. Documentation Requirements
For Each Emergency Contact
- Time and date of initial contact
- Nature of emergency
- Response provided
- Follow-up actions taken
- Resolution documentation
4. Staff Responsibilities
On-Call Physician
- Maintain emergency phone access
- Respond within protocol timeframes
- Document all interactions
Practice Manager
- Maintain emergency contact systems
- Update protocols quarterly
- Ensure staff training compliance
5. Annual Review
- Update emergency procedures
- Verify all contact information
- Review response effectiveness
- Update staff training
6. Quality Assurance
- Monthly review of emergency responses
- Patient satisfaction tracking
- Response time monitoring
- Protocol compliance audit