Toolkit for Providers Serving Children with Hearing Loss
Tip #2: Collect Two Contact Numbers for Each Family
What We Learned
• Families with newborns are a very mobile population. Frequently the contact telephone number given to the birth hospital by the family changes, sometimes unexpectedly after discharge. This can contribute to difficulties with ensuring good follow-up.
What We Did
• Staff at the birth hospital asked families for two contact telephone numbers where they would be happy to be reached for any necessary follow-up contact.
• Some families gave a cell phone and a land line. Some gave 2 land lines. Some gave the number of a trusted friend or relative.
Questions for My Practice
• Do we check at each visit that we have each family’s current telephone numbers?
• Do we ask new patients to give us two telephone numbers where they would be happy to be contacted for medical follow-up?
• Do our patients know how to inform us if their telephone number or address changes?
Changes to Try in My Practice
• Ensure that we ask families of new patients for more than one contact number.
• Check at each visit that the numbers and address on file are still current.
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