Telephone Use
The Communications Department is responsible for providing an efficient, cost-effective telephone system.
Employees are responsible for using the telephone system appropriately, governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct and Confidentiality. Personal phone calls should be kept to a minimum; phone usage is primarily for business purposes.
At the request of Graduate Medical Education , all House Staff are issued a "TDX" authorization number, for business related toll calls. Hospital policy limits the use of Authorization Codes and Calling Cards to business-related long-distance calls. Unless approved by a Department Director or Practice Manager all personal toll calls must be billed to a third party, to a personal calling card, placed collect, or placed at a pay station. GME audits the monthly Call Detail Reports provided by the Communications Department to assure that no unauthorized personal toll calls are placed. If abuse is discovered or suspected, GME will investigate the report and make an inquiry with the resident. Violators will be billed for unauthorized calls at the rate of an operator-assisted call. Abuse of the telephone system constitutes misappropriation of funds and may result in disciplinary action.
