Quality Improvement: An ACQIP Exercise on Telephone Advice
Robert H. Sebring, PhD*
Myra Gueco, MPH*
*
Staff of the Division of Quality Care
As part of Pediatrics in Review's
ongoing focus on quality
improvement,we present a self-assessment
exercise taken from the American
Academyof Pediatrics' Ambulatory
Quality Improvement Program
(ACQIP).Readers are encouraged
to participate in the ongoing
ACQIP program.Additional
information can be obtained by calling
or writingto the Division of
Quality Care, American Academy of
Pediatrics,Box 927, Elk Grove
Village, IL 60009-0927.
Educational Objectives
When physicians and staff complete
this exercise, review the
accompanyingmaterial, and discuss their
responses together, they will beable
to create or improve office telephone
protocols that willenhance patient
care in the context of a mutual
learning experience.
Instructions
Duplicate the questions and have
both physicians and officestaff
who answer the telephone
complete the exercise.
Chooseonly one answer to each
question. These questions have
notbeendesigned to trick you in
any way. The correct answer for
onepractice may not be
appropriate for others.
Review the qualitypointers that
follow the exercise.
Physicians and staff should
discusseach question and their
answers,using that discussion to
developor modify appropriate
telephoneprotocols for the office.
Thisexercise has been completed
by ACQIP subscribers in thepast.
Themost common responses and
the percentage of officesin which
physiciansand staff are in
agreement on each questionare
presented atthe end of the article.
Telephone Advice
1. A parent calls in saying that
her 6-month-old child feels
warmand has been sleeping
a lot in the past 2 days.
When asked aseries of
questions about the
availability of a thermometer,
appetite,etc, it becomes
apparent that the parent is
either confused,inebriated,
or not in control. (Circle
one response)
A. Advisethe parent to bring
the child in as soon as
possible.