24-hour post-procedure contact script for HOF
Quick facts
- Format
- Short message or phone call
- When
- About 24 hours after the procedure
- Goal
- Check how the patient is doing and spot warning signs early
- Record
- Note the contact in the patient's chart
The 24-hour contact is one of the cheapest and most useful habits in a clinic. It takes two minutes and brings three gains: the patient feels cared for, you hear whether anything is off, and warning signs are caught early, while there is still time to act.
The script below works for a message or a call. It asks little, listens a lot and has one clear rule: if a warning sign appears, the patient is called in for an assessment, not reassured by text. For the guidance given at the appointment, see the aftercare instructions.
What should you ask?
How do you interpret the answers?
| Patient's answer | Suggested action |
|---|---|
| No complaints | Reinforce the instructions and schedule the follow-up |
| Mild swelling and bruising | Remind them these are usually expected, reinforce the warning signs |
| Moderate pain | Ask more and offer an assessment |
| Severe pain, pale or purplish skin | Call in for an immediate assessment |
| Change in vision | Emergency: direct them to seek care and activate the plan |
| Question about aftercare | Resend the written instructions |
How should you record it?
Note the date, the channel, what the patient said and the action taken. If anything unexpected happened, open the complication record. The record protects both the patient and the professional, and follows the chart documentation practices.
What if the patient does not answer?
Try a second time the same day, by phone, for higher-risk procedures. If that is not possible, record the attempts and use the 7-day aftercare message. For handling a difficult conversation after a complication, see telling the patient about a complication.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need to contact the patient the next day?
It is not a universal rule, but it is good practice: it shows care, helps catch warning signs early and reduces panicked messages. Follow the rules of your professional board.
Call or message?
For higher-risk procedures, a call is usually better, because it lets you ask and listen. For the rest, a message with direct questions may be enough.
What should I do if the patient reports something worrying?
Activate the clinic's complication plan: ask them to come in for an assessment, do not delay, and record it. Severe pain, pale or purplish skin and vision changes are an emergency.