Like, Jimmie, I rarely call consultants but, when I do, I have not had any trouble getting them to talk to me right then. Maybe it is because they have learned over the years "When Strouse calls, it is important." Most of the time when I call it directly concerns how I should treat a patient until they can see them, do they want the guy in my office with a complete heart block directly admitted to them or sent to the ER? Sometimes, though, I will call if my staff is having trouble with a specialist's office. The biggie here is when they try to make an appointment with, say a rheumatologist, and are told they have to fax my notes and all the labs over to them first so he can look at it before he decides if it is an appropriate referral and he will see the patient. I will then personally speak with the rheumatologist and tell him he has insulted my intelligence and that, in all likelihood, I will not be sending any more patients to him.
