Pediatric Telephone Protocols

Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and past medical director (1988-2019) of the After-Hours Call Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO.  Dr Schmitt is also the author of My Child Is Sick!, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).  Dr Schmitt has received several awards, including the C. Anderson Aldrich Award for contributions in child development and the Education Award for contributions in pediatric education, both from the AAP.

Infants
Bottle-Feeding (Formula) Questions
Breastfeeding Questions
Circumcision Problems
Cradle Cap
Crying, Before Months Old
Crying, Months and Older
Diaper Rash
Foreskin Care Questions
Hernia, Umbilical
Jaundice, Newborn
Newborn (Up to 3 Months) Acts Sick
Newborn Appearance Questions
Newborn Rashes and Birthmarks
Newborn Reflexes and Behavior
Spitting Up (Reflux)
Tear Duct, Blocked
Thrush
Umbilical Cord Symptoms
 
Skin/Bites
Animal Bite
Athlete’s Foot
Bee or Yellow Jacket Sting
Chickenpox, Diagnosed or Suspected
Eczema
Fifth Disease
Fire Ant Sting
Frostbite and Cold Exposure
Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Hives
Impetigo (Infected Sore)
Insect Bite
Lice
Mosquito Bite
Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac
Rash, Amoxicillin or Augmentin
Rash, Widespread on Drugs
Rash or Redness, Localized
Rash or Redness, Widespread
Ringworm
Skin, Foreign Body
Skin, Lump or Localized Swelling
Spider Bite
Sunburn
Tick Bite
Warts
Wound Infection Suspected
 
A–Z
 
A
Abdominal Pain
Arm Pain
Asthma Attack
 
B
Back Pain
Bronchiolitis Follow-Up Call
Burns
 
C
Chest Pain
Colds
Constipation
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Diagnosed or Suspected
Cough
Croup
 
D
Diarrhea
Dizziness
 
E
Ear, Congestion
Ear, Discharge
Ear, Foreign Body
Ear, Pulling at or Rubbing
Ear, Swimmer’s
Ear Infection Follow-up Call
Earache
Eye, Allergy
Eye, Foreign Body
Eye, Pus or Discharge
Eye, Red Without Pus
Eye, Swelling

F
Fever
Fluid Intake, Decreased
Food Reactions
 
H
Headache
 
I
Immunization Reactions
Infection on Antibiotic Follow-up Call
Influenza (Flu), Seasonal
 
L
Leg Pain
Lymph Nodes, Swollen
 
M
Medication Questions
Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual Period, Missed or Late
Mouth Ulcers
 
N
Nasal Allergies (Hay Fever)
Neck Pain or Stiffness
Nose, Foreign Body
Nosebleed
 
P
Penis/Scrotum Symptoms Before Puberty
Penis/Scrotum Symptoms After Puberty
Pinworms
Psychosocial Problems
Puncture Wound
 
S
Scrotum Swelling or Pain
Sinus Pain or Congestion
Sore Throat
Stools, Blood In
Stools, Unusual Color
Strep Throat Exposure
Strep Throat Infection Follow-up Call
Sty
Suture or Staple Questions
Swallowed Foreign Body
 
T
Teething
 
U
Urination Pain (Female)
Urination Pain (Male)
 
V
Vaginal Bleeding Before Puberty
Vaginal Bleeding After Puberty
Vaginal Itching (Irritation) Before Puberty
Vaginal Symptoms or Discharge Before Puberty
Vaginal Symptoms or Discharge After Puberty
Vomiting With Diarrhea
Vomiting Without Diarrhea
 
W
Weakness (Generalized) and Fatigue
Wheezing (Other Than Asthma)
 
Emergencies
Anaphylaxis
Breathing Difficulty (Respiratory Distress)
Choking, Inhaled Foreign Body
Confusion (Delirium)
Eye, Chemical In
Fainting
Heat Exposure (Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke)
Poisoning, Ingestion
Seizure With Fever
Seizure Without Fever
 
Injuries
Abdominal Injury
Arm Injury
Back Injury
Chest Injury
Ear Injury
Eye Injury
Finger Injury
Genital Injury (Female)
Genital Injury (Male)
Head Injury
Leg Injury
Mouth Injury
Neck Injury
Nose Injury
Skin Injury (Bruises, Cuts, and Scrapes)
Toe Injury
Tooth Injury
 
Exposures
Infection Exposure Questions
Influenza (Flu) Exposure
Strep Exposure (Strep Contacts)
Whooping Cough Exposure
 
OTC Medications
Dosage Tables for Over-the-Counter Medications
Fever and Pain Medicines
Short-acting Antihistamine (6-8 Hours)
Long-acting Antihistamines (24 Hours)
 
User’s Guide
User’s Guide for the Telephone Triager
Prioritizing Calls Checklist for Telephone Triagers
911 Checklist for Office Support Staff or Answering Service Staff
Telephone Log Sheet Samples
Quality Improvement Checklist: Review of Call Documentation
Prescription Medication Questions
Over-the-Counter Medication Questions
Reviewers of Pediatric Telephone Protocols
Published Peer-Reviewed Research on Pediatric Call Centers Using Dr Schmitt’s Pediatric Telephone Protocols
References for All Protocols
American Academy of Pediatrics Books
American Academy of Pediatrics
Section on Telehealth Care: How to Join
Telemedicine and Pediatric Primary Care

Index