When to Call
Who does what — care team, nurse line, pharmacist, urgent care, emergency services — and what to have in front of you.
This section explains who answers which kind of question, and what information makes each call go faster. It does not tell you which one your situation calls for: that judgment belongs to you and to the clinician on the other end of the line. If it feels like an emergency, stop reading and call 911 or your local emergency number.
Guides in this section
Choosing the Right Number to Call When Unwell
How do I work out which number on my list to ring?
General education
Essentials to Gather Before You Call for Help
What should I gather before I pick up the phone?
Depends on your own plan
Effectively Preparing for Health Calls During Illness
What questions will I be asked when I call my healthcare team?
General education
Recording Doctor's Advice During a Call
How can I effectively record advice from my care team on a call?
General education
Steps to Take When You Can't Reach Your Care Team
What do I do if nobody answers?
Depends on your own plan
Helping Someone Else Make a Call for You
What does the person helping me need in order to call on my behalf?
Depends on your own plan
Managing Illness with Diabetes: Organizing Your Day
How can I organize my day with diabetes when I'm sick?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for a Conversation on Alcohol Use and Your Health
How can I prepare to discuss alcohol use and heart health with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing to Discuss Blood Thinners and Alzheimer's Disease
How can I discuss blood thinners with my care team for Alzheimer's?
Depends on your own plan
Organize Your Sick Day for Managing Type 2 Diabetes
How can I prepare to manage diabetes with unexpected illness?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for a Talk About Congenital Heart Defects
How can I prepare for a discussion with my care team about congenital heart defects?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for a Conversation About Heart Calcium Scans
How can I prepare to discuss heart calcium scans with my care team?
Needs a professional decision
Preparing for Heart Health Conversations When Unwell
How can I prepare for discussions on heart health research while unwell?
Needs a professional decision
How to Prepare for a Discussion on Diabetes and Neurological Health
How can I prepare to talk with my care team about diabetes and brain health?
Needs a professional decision
Discussing Neighborhood Impacts on Your Health: How to Prepare
How can I prepare to discuss neighborhood impacts on health with my care team?
General education
Preparing to Discuss Melatonin Use with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk about melatonin use and heart health with my care team?
General education
Prepare for a Talk About Gum Health with Your Dentist
How can I prepare to discuss severe gum issues with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Prepare for Discussing Islet Cell Therapies with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to discuss islet cell therapies with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
How to Plan for a Sick Day with Kidney Stones
What steps can I take to prepare for a kidney stone-related sick day?
Depends on your own plan
Organize Your Day for Chronic Pain Management Discussions
How can I prepare to discuss chronic pain management with my care team?
General education
Organize a Conversation About Managing Diabetes and Illnesses
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about diabetes and common illnesses?
Depends on your own plan
Balancing Diabetes Management with Chronic Pain
How can I manage my diabetes alongside chronic pain effectively?
General education
Efficiently Discussing Pain Control with Your Care Team
How can you effectively prepare for a pain management discussion with your care team?
Depends on your own plan
Organize Your Day When Dealing with Chronic Pain
How can I prepare to discuss chronic pain with my doctor?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing to Discuss Advanced Pain Relief Options
How can I prepare to discuss advanced pain relief options with my doctor?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing to Discuss Chronic Pain and Emotions with Your Care Team
How can I organize my thoughts before discussing chronic pain and emotions with my doctor?
Depends on your own plan
Getting Ready to Talk About Behavioral Therapy for Back Pain
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about behavioral therapy for chronic back pain?
Depends on your own plan
Organize Your Sick Day with Type 2 Diabetes
How do I prepare for a sick day with type 2 diabetes?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing to Discuss Kidney Stone Risk with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about my risk of kidney stones?
General education
How to Discuss Stem Cell Transplants with Your Care Team
How can I prepare for a conversation about stem cell transplants?
General education
Preparing to Discuss Kidney Health with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about my kidney health?
Depends on your own plan
Getting Ready to Discuss Gastric Cancer Metastasis with Care Team
How can I prepare to discuss peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer with my care team?
General education
Prepare to Discuss Dialysis Options with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk about dialysis options with my doctor?
Needs a professional decision
How to Discuss Sleep and Brain Health with Your Diabetes Care Team
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about sleep and brain health?
General education
Preparing for Health Discussions About Contraception
How can I prepare to discuss contraception with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Organize Your Day: Nail Changes on GLP-1 Medications
How can I prepare to discuss nail changes while on GLP-1 medications?
Needs a professional decision
Organizing a Sick Day Without a Plan
How can I organize a sick day when I don't have a sick-day plan?
General education
Prepare for a Mental Health Discussion on Psychopathy
How can I prepare to discuss psychopathy with my care team?
Needs a professional decision
Discussing Environmental Exposures with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk about environmental exposures with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing to Discuss the Nordic Diet with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to discuss the Nordic diet with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Navigating DNA and Health Discussions with Your Care Team
How do I discuss DNA-related health topics with my care team?
General education
Preparing for a Talk on Smartphone Use and Mental Health
How can I prepare to discuss the impact of smartphones on mental health with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Managing a Common Illness With Type 2 Diabetes
How can I organize my day when I'm sick with type 2 diabetes?
Depends on your own plan
How to Discuss Bird Flu Risks with Your Care Team
How can I get ready to discuss bird flu with my care team?
Needs a professional decision
Preparing to Discuss CAM for Headache Management
How can I prepare to discuss CAM options for headache treatment?
Depends on your own plan
Steps to Take if Your Health Coverage is Cancelled
How can I prepare to talk to my care team if I lose health insurance unexpectedly?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for Bladder Cancer Treatment Discussions
How can I prepare to discuss bladder cancer treatment options with my care team?
Needs a professional decision
Managing Health Coverage Changes When You're Unwell
How can I prepare to handle health coverage decisions with type 2 diabetes during illness?
Depends on your own plan
Organize a Sick Day Plan with Medi-Cal Changes
How do I prepare for a sick day with new Medi-Cal guidelines?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for a Talk on Hospital Financial Aid During Illness
How can I prepare to discuss hospital financial aid if I get sick?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for Financial Aid Discussions with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to discuss financial aid with my care team?
Needs a professional decision
How to Prepare for Sick Days with Type 2 Diabetes
How can I organize my sick day with type 2 diabetes?
Depends on your own plan
How to Prepare for Sick Days with Type 2 Diabetes
What steps can I take to manage a sick day with type 2 diabetes?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing to Ask for a Second Opinion
How can I prepare to discuss a second opinion with my care team?
Depends on your own plan
Discussions with Healthcare Providers About Peptides
How can I prepare to discuss experimental peptides with my healthcare provider?
Depends on your own plan
How to Discuss Social Media Use with Your Care Team
How can I talk to my care team about my social media use when feeling unwell?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for Flu with Type 2 Diabetes: A Practical Guide
How can I prepare for a sick day with a flu while managing type 2 diabetes?
Depends on your own plan
Handling a Sick Day with Circadian Rhythm Concerns
How can I manage a sick day when worried about circadian rhythm issues?
Depends on your own plan
Preparing for a Health Chat During a Sick Day
How can someone with diabetes prepare to discuss AI-enhanced ECG with their care team?
Depends on your own plan
Prepare to Discuss Pulsed Field Ablation
How can I prepare for a discussion with my care team about pulsed field ablation?
Depends on your own plan