What to do when your doctor doesn't pick up your call

Here, I am referring to patients who are already engaged with a doctor and known to each other.

The short answer is - Send a message.

It's pretty simple. Still, I see so many of us calling repeatedly, in quick succession and getting frustrated. Save yourself some trouble, text instead and be patient (pun not intended).

Your doctor may be consulting some other patient, may be busy with a procedure, commuting across clinic or hospital. It's also possible that he or she maybe attending a parent-teacher meeting or cooking lunch or in a movie or a mall. After all, your doctor is also a normal person, just like you. Based on my 22 years of experience, knowing and working with hundreds of fellow doctors, in independent clinics as well as large hospitals, I can tell you this - Almost always, your doctor is as concerned about your (or patient's) wellbeing as you are. Usually, they'll call you back or have someone from the team call you back.

Here are 3 characteristics of a good message:

1. Prefer Text message (SMS) over WhatsApp

2. Clearly mention your update or ask

3. Provide necessary background, briefly

Prefer Text message (SMS) over WhatsApp
These days, all of us get hundreds of WhatsApp messages across tens of different groups. It's easy for someone to miss the urgency of a message, especially if they are not expecting one from you. A Text or SMS helps your message stand out and increases the urgency of the message.

Provide brief context or necessary background to your call
Super short messages like "please callback", "called you to talk" don't help. Let the message briefly say what prompted the call. Maybe you got the pathology reports. Or the patient has developed a situation that was not discussed or anticipated. Or you want to reschedule the next appointment. Or take a new one urgently. Whatever is the context, specify it briefly.

Clearly mention your ask
This is the most important one. Just providing the context is not sufficient. What did you want to achieve from the call. Maybe you wanted to check if appointment is possible in the morning/evening. Or you want the doctor to check his/her mail for the reports that you have emailed. Or you just need to talk to the doctor. Whatever it is, clearly mention what you expect the doctor to do in response to the message.

Have a nice day!