KIPS BAY — Looking for the right doctor for your child? A new toll-free phone number might be able to help.
NYU Langone Medical Center has launched a dedicated phone line that will help parents find physicians who can address their child’s specific needs and make appointments. The number is 1 (855) NYU-KIDS.
“We know that families have a difficult time making appointments with doctors,” said Dr. Catherine Manno, chair of the pediatrics department at NYU Langone Medical Center. “So we were trying to streamline the experience.”
The process of finding a doctor and making appointments can be difficult, Manno added. Hospital operators can leave patients waiting on hold, and patients are sometimes transferred to the wrong office.
The NYU phone line will connect parents directly to nurses, who will staff the access line during business hours. With their medical knowledge and background, they can offer suggestions to parents who are looking for physicians and services for their children. The nurses can make appointments for patients, and they can also help physicians looking to refer or transfer a child to another doctor.
So far, the phone line has received some calls, but overall, the response has been tepid. Manno said lack of awareness may be to blame.
“We need to get the word out,” she said.
