This specific set of words represents a request for contact information pertaining to gastroenterological services located in a particular city. It blends a geographic location with a medical specialty and a generic descriptor for reaching a service provider. The request anticipates a numerical string that facilitates direct communication with a healthcare provider’s office.
Accessing this type of information is critical for individuals seeking medical care related to the digestive system. It enables patients to schedule appointments, inquire about services offered, and obtain essential pre-appointment instructions. Historically, this data was obtained through printed directories; however, contemporary methods primarily involve online searches, reflecting a shift toward digital information access.
The availability of this information facilitates access to healthcare, ultimately benefiting individuals experiencing digestive health issues. Now, let’s delve into the broader context of digestive health resources and how to effectively locate them.
1. Accuracy
The accuracy of the provided contact data is paramount to the effective utilization of digestive health services in Spokane. Erroneous contact details directly impede access to necessary medical care, potentially delaying treatment and exacerbating health concerns.
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Source Verification
The origin of the contact information significantly impacts its reliability. Data sourced directly from the healthcare provider’s official website or directory is generally more accurate than information aggregated from third-party platforms. Regularly updating the information source mitigates the risk of outdated or incorrect data. For instance, a phone number listed on a five-year-old directory is far less likely to be accurate than one found on the clinic’s current website.
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Data Validation Processes
The processes employed to validate contact information are crucial. Organizations that routinely verify their data through direct confirmation with the healthcare provider exhibit higher accuracy rates. Automated systems can be used to check the formatting and validity of phone numbers, but human verification remains essential to ensure the number connects to the intended recipient. Consider a situation where a website automatically generates phone numbers; it might create syntactically valid numbers that lead nowhere.
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Frequency of Updates
The regularity with which contact information is updated directly affects its ongoing accuracy. Healthcare providers frequently change phone systems or relocate offices, rendering older data obsolete. Frequent updates, ideally performed at least quarterly, minimize the likelihood of encountering outdated information. A healthcare system undergoing a merger, for example, might change its phone system across all locations, requiring an immediate update of all contact listings.
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Potential Consequences of Inaccuracy
Inaccurate contact information can lead to significant disruptions in patient care. Missed appointments, delays in diagnosis, and difficulties in obtaining critical medical advice are all potential consequences. In emergency situations, the inability to reach the healthcare provider can have severe repercussions. A patient experiencing severe abdominal pain attempting to contact the on-call gastroenterologist, but reaching a disconnected number, exemplifies the severity of inaccurate data.
The interplay of these factors underscores the critical importance of prioritizing accuracy in the dissemination of contact data. Reliable sources, robust validation processes, and frequent updates are essential to ensure individuals seeking digestive health services can effectively connect with the appropriate healthcare providers in Spokane.
2. Availability
The accessibility of contact information for digestive health services in Spokane is a critical determinant of timely healthcare access. The ease with which individuals can obtain this information directly impacts their ability to schedule appointments, seek medical advice, and manage digestive health conditions.
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Online Accessibility
The presence of the phone number on easily accessible online platforms, such as the provider’s official website, online directories, and healthcare portals, significantly enhances availability. A practice that buries its contact information deep within a website or omits it from prominent online listings reduces its accessibility, potentially delaying care. Example: A prominent display of the phone number on the homepage versus only within the “Contact Us” section reached after multiple clicks.
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Search Engine Optimization
The effectiveness of search engine optimization (SEO) strategies determines how easily the number appears in relevant search results. Higher search engine rankings ensure that individuals searching for digestive health services in Spokane are more likely to find the correct contact information quickly. Example: A well-optimized website appearing on the first page of Google search results for “Spokane gastroenterologist” compared to a poorly optimized site appearing on the third or fourth page.
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Hours of Operation for Information Access
Availability extends beyond the mere existence of the phone number; it also encompasses the hours during which individuals can access the information. Some clinics may restrict access to contact details outside of business hours, limiting the ability of patients to seek urgent care information. Example: A clinic providing a 24/7 automated phone system with access to on-call physician contact information versus a clinic that only provides a recording directing callers to call back during business hours.
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Mobile-Friendliness
Given the prevalence of mobile device usage, the contact information should be readily accessible and easily readable on smartphones and tablets. Websites that are not mobile-friendly can deter users and hinder their ability to quickly obtain the necessary contact details. Example: A website designed with responsive design that adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes versus a desktop-only site that requires extensive zooming and scrolling on a mobile device.
The aforementioned elements directly influence the ease with which individuals can secure the contact information necessary to engage with digestive health providers in Spokane. Improving accessibility through these avenues enhances patient access, promotes timely care, and ultimately contributes to improved health outcomes.
3. Specificity
Specificity, in the context of contact details for digestive health services in Spokane, refers to the precision and granularity of the provided information. It dictates whether the number connects the caller to the intended department or individual, rather than a general switchboard or irrelevant service. This precision is crucial for efficient communication and timely access to specialized care.
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Departmental Targeting
Specificity ensures the provided number directly connects to the digestive health department, rather than a general hospital or clinic line. The number should route the caller to appointment scheduling, nurse triage, or the physician’s office, as required. Absent this targeting, callers face delays navigating multiple phone menus or speaking with personnel unfamiliar with their needs. Example: Providing a direct line to the gastroenterology department’s scheduling desk, instead of the main hospital switchboard. This avoids the caller needing to explain their needs multiple times.
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Provider Designation
In cases where a patient requires direct communication with a specific physician or specialist within the digestive health department, specificity dictates that the provided number facilitates this connection. General contact information for the clinic may not suffice when urgent communication with a specific care provider is necessary. Example: Supplying the direct line or secure messaging portal details for a patient’s primary gastroenterologist, rather than just the clinic’s general inquiries line, for ongoing care management.
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Purpose-Driven Contact Options
Specificity extends to providing separate contact options based on the purpose of the communication. Separate numbers for appointment scheduling, medical records requests, and billing inquiries streamline communication and ensure that calls are routed to the appropriate personnel. Example: A website offering distinct phone numbers for new patient appointments, prescription refills, and billing questions, rather than funneling all inquiries through a single point of contact. This optimizes response times and reduces caller frustration.
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Answering Service Protocols
Even outside of regular business hours, specificity remains critical. An answering service or after-hours protocol should be in place to route calls based on the nature of the emergency. The provided contact information should guide the caller to the appropriate on-call physician or emergency contact. Example: An after-hours answering service trained to differentiate between routine inquiries and urgent medical needs, with protocols for immediately connecting urgent calls to the on-call gastroenterologist.
The attributes of specificity elucidated above are essential for optimizing the utility of contact information pertaining to digestive health services in Spokane. Accurate departmental targeting, provider designation, purpose-driven contact options, and well-defined answering service protocols collectively ensure that individuals can effectively and efficiently connect with the resources they require.
4. Verification
The validity of the contact data, specifically a “spokane digestive phone number,” is fundamentally contingent upon verification processes. Unverified information risks misdirection and delays access to essential medical services. The absence of rigorous verification precipitates a cascade of negative consequences, from missed appointments to prolonged suffering, when individuals attempt to contact healthcare providers using outdated or incorrect numbers. For instance, a patient experiencing a gastrointestinal bleed attempting to reach a specialist through a number acquired from an outdated online directory faces critical delays in receiving care if that number has been disconnected or reassigned.
Verification methodologies encompass several key strategies. Direct confirmation with the digestive health practice in Spokane is the most reliable method. This involves proactively contacting the practice to confirm the accuracy of the listed phone number, ensuring it routes to the appropriate department or individual. Regular cross-referencing of phone numbers against the practice’s official website or published directory further strengthens the verification process. Additionally, monitoring feedback from patients and online reviews can alert healthcare providers to potential discrepancies or outdated contact details, prompting necessary updates. Consider the scenario where a patient reports in an online review that a listed number is consistently busy or leads to a wrong department; such feedback necessitates immediate investigation and correction of the listed number.
In conclusion, prioritizing verification protocols is not merely a procedural formality; it is an ethical imperative with profound implications for patient care. The accuracy of the “spokane digestive phone number” directly affects the accessibility and efficacy of digestive health services. Maintaining up-to-date and verified contact information is a crucial element in ensuring that individuals receive timely and appropriate medical attention, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and reduced patient suffering.
5. Immediacy
The attribute of immediacy, in the context of a “spokane digestive phone number,” denotes the promptness with which an individual can obtain and utilize the contact information to connect with digestive health services. It underscores the importance of minimizing delays in accessing crucial healthcare resources.
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Real-Time Availability of Information
The capacity to acquire the correct “spokane digestive phone number” instantly via online searches, official websites, or dedicated healthcare portals is paramount. Stale or outdated information undermines immediacy, potentially leading to critical delays in seeking medical assistance. For instance, an individual experiencing acute abdominal pain requires immediate access to a verified phone number to schedule an appointment or consult with a medical professional. The presence of readily available, up-to-date contact information directly influences the speed at which care can be accessed.
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Responsiveness of Answering Services
Immediacy extends beyond simply obtaining the “spokane digestive phone number” and includes the promptness with which the call is answered and appropriately routed. Automated phone systems with lengthy menus or excessively long hold times detract from immediacy, creating barriers to communication. An effective answering service should efficiently direct the caller to the relevant department or medical professional, minimizing the time spent navigating the system. Consider a patient attempting to reschedule an appointment; a responsive answering service facilitates this process swiftly, while a prolonged wait time diminishes immediacy.
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After-Hours Access to Emergency Services
The concept of immediacy is particularly crucial during evenings, weekends, and holidays when routine office hours are not in effect. Individuals experiencing urgent digestive health issues require immediate access to on-call physicians or emergency medical services. The “spokane digestive phone number” provided for after-hours care must connect the caller to qualified medical personnel without undue delay. A system that promptly connects a patient experiencing severe gastrointestinal bleeding to an on-call gastroenterologist exemplifies immediacy in an emergency situation.
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Streamlined Appointment Scheduling
Even after obtaining the correct “spokane digestive phone number,” the scheduling process itself can impact immediacy. Efficient appointment scheduling systems, whether automated or handled by dedicated staff, contribute to timely access to care. Long wait times for appointment slots or cumbersome scheduling procedures detract from immediacy. A digestive health practice that offers online appointment scheduling or employs a team of efficient scheduling coordinators enhances immediacy by reducing the time between initial contact and the actual appointment.
The interplay of these facets highlights the multi-faceted nature of immediacy in the context of “spokane digestive phone number.” The ability to obtain the number, connect with a responsive service, access after-hours care, and schedule appointments efficiently are all essential components of ensuring timely access to digestive health services in Spokane. Prioritizing immediacy in these areas can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary delays in care.
6. Relevance
In the context of “spokane digestive phone number,” relevance signifies the degree to which the provided contact information directly and purposefully connects an individual seeking digestive healthcare services with the appropriate resources in Spokane. Ensuring relevance is paramount to efficient access to specialized medical attention.
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Specialty Alignment
The provided phone number must exclusively connect to gastroenterology or digestive health services. Listing a general practitioner’s number, or a number for a different medical specialty within the same clinic, lacks relevance and can lead to misdirection and delayed care. The information should be targeted toward specialists in digestive disorders. Consider the scenario where an individual experiencing symptoms of Crohn’s disease seeks contact information. The number provided should lead directly to a gastroenterologist specializing in inflammatory bowel diseases, rather than a general internal medicine physician.
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Geographic Specificity
Relevance mandates that the “spokane digestive phone number” directs to a provider physically located within the Spokane metropolitan area or one that serves patients in that geographic region. Contact information for providers in other cities or states is irrelevant and potentially misleading. This geographic specificity is particularly critical for patients requiring immediate care or follow-up appointments. For example, a patient residing in Spokane Valley would require a phone number for a digestive health clinic within reasonable driving distance, not one located several hours away in a different state.
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Service-Specific Routing
Relevance entails directing calls to the appropriate department or individual based on the caller’s specific needs. Distinguishing between appointment scheduling, medical records requests, and urgent medical inquiries is essential. A generic number that routes all calls to a centralized operator, requiring further navigation, diminishes relevance. A system that offers distinct numbers or prompts for different service areas, thereby directing calls efficiently, ensures the highest degree of relevance. For example, providing distinct contact pathways for new patient consultations versus established patient follow-ups.
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Up-to-Date Accuracy
Relevance is inextricably linked to the currency and accuracy of the contact information. An outdated or disconnected phone number, even if initially relevant, loses its utility over time. Regular verification and updates are crucial to maintain relevance. Changes in office locations, phone systems, or staffing require corresponding updates to all published contact information. The number should reflect the current point of contact. If a clinic has moved locations and changed its phone number, the previously valid number is no longer relevant, and only the updated number is applicable for patient contact.
These facets of relevance converge to ensure that individuals seeking digestive healthcare in Spokane can readily and efficiently connect with the appropriate resources. A failure to prioritize relevance can result in wasted time, frustration, and potentially detrimental delays in accessing medical attention.
7. Privacy
The availability of a “spokane digestive phone number” raises significant privacy considerations. The transmission, storage, and accessibility of this information necessitate robust safeguards to protect individuals seeking digestive health services. Publicly displaying a phone number without adequate security measures can lead to unsolicited contact, including marketing calls or, more seriously, attempts to exploit vulnerable individuals. The potential for misuse underscores the importance of controlled dissemination and secure data management practices by healthcare providers and associated information services. For example, a freely accessible online directory without adequate security protocols could be scraped for data, exposing individuals seeking help to unwanted intrusions.
The ethical and legal implications of safeguarding a “spokane digestive phone number” are considerable. Healthcare providers are legally obligated under statutes like HIPAA to protect patient information, which includes contact details. Any unauthorized disclosure or misuse of this information can result in severe penalties. Furthermore, the erosion of trust resulting from privacy breaches can deter individuals from seeking needed medical care. Consider a scenario where a phone number obtained from an unsecured online portal is used to contact a patient about an unrelated product; this could create distrust and prevent future engagement with healthcare services.
In conclusion, maintaining strict privacy protocols regarding a “spokane digestive phone number” is essential for preserving patient trust, adhering to legal mandates, and ensuring the ethical provision of digestive health services. Challenges remain in balancing accessibility with security, particularly in the digital age, but prioritizing privacy remains a critical component of providing effective and respectful healthcare. Safeguarding this seemingly simple piece of contact information ultimately supports the broader goals of promoting health and well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Spokane Digestive Phone Numbers
This section addresses common inquiries and clarifies essential aspects related to locating and utilizing contact information for digestive health services in Spokane.
Question 1: Why is it difficult to find a direct line to a specific gastroenterologist in Spokane?
The structure of many healthcare systems centralizes initial contact through a main scheduling line or general inquiry number. This approach aims to manage call volume and direct patients to the appropriate department. However, it can hinder direct access to individual physicians. Alternative methods, such as secure messaging portals or referrals from primary care physicians, may offer more direct communication channels.
Question 2: How can the accuracy of a Spokane digestive phone number be verified?
The most reliable method is to cross-reference the phone number with the healthcare provider’s official website or directly contact the clinic to confirm the information. Third-party websites may contain outdated or inaccurate details. Regular verification ensures connection to the intended resource.
Question 3: What should be done if an online search yields multiple conflicting phone numbers for the same Spokane digestive health practice?
It is advisable to contact the practice’s main number (if available) and inquire about the discrepancy. Explain that multiple listings exist and seek clarification on the correct contact information for the desired department or service. This approach minimizes the risk of misdirection.
Question 4: Are there alternative methods for contacting digestive health services in Spokane besides phone numbers?
Many practices offer online appointment scheduling, secure messaging portals for established patients, and contact forms for general inquiries. These methods can provide convenient alternatives to phone communication. The availability of these options varies by practice.
Question 5: What steps should be taken if an attempt to reach a Spokane digestive health service by phone results in a disconnected number or incorrect routing?
First, verify the phone number against the practice’s official website or other reliable sources. If the number remains invalid, consider contacting the main hospital or clinic switchboard and requesting a direct connection to the desired department. Documenting the incorrect number and reporting it to the website or directory where it was found can help prevent future errors.
Question 6: How can individuals without internet access obtain a Spokane digestive phone number?
Public libraries, local community centers, and primary care physicians’ offices often maintain directories of local healthcare providers. These resources can provide alternative avenues for obtaining contact information for digestive health services in Spokane.
Accurate and accessible contact information is essential for efficient navigation of the healthcare system. Proactive verification and utilization of alternative communication methods can mitigate challenges in obtaining a reliable Spokane digestive phone number.
The following section provides resources for locating digestive health services.
Tips for Locating Spokane Digestive Phone Numbers
This section provides practical guidance for efficiently locating verified contact information for digestive health services in Spokane.
Tip 1: Initiate Searches on Official Healthcare Provider Websites: Begin searches directly on the websites of Spokane-based hospitals, clinics, and gastroenterology practices. Official websites are the most reliable sources for current contact information.
Tip 2: Employ Specific Search Terms: Utilize precise search queries, such as “Spokane gastroenterology clinic phone” or “digestive health services Spokane contact,” to refine search results and minimize irrelevant entries.
Tip 3: Cross-Reference Information from Multiple Sources: Compare contact details obtained from various online directories, healthcare portals, and the provider’s website. Discrepancies should be investigated to ensure accuracy.
Tip 4: Verify Numbers Directly with the Practice: Contact the digestive health practice to confirm the phone number, especially if the information is sourced from a third-party website. This step is critical for avoiding outdated or incorrect numbers.
Tip 5: Utilize Healthcare Provider Directories: Consult online healthcare provider directories, such as those maintained by insurance companies or medical associations, to locate verified contact information.
Tip 6: Seek Referrals from Primary Care Physicians: Inquire with primary care physicians for recommendations and direct contact information for reputable gastroenterologists or digestive health specialists in Spokane.
Tip 7: Be Aware of Potential Scams: Be skeptical of unsolicited calls or messages offering medical services or requesting personal information. Always verify the legitimacy of the caller by contacting the provider directly through verified channels.
Following these guidelines enhances the probability of obtaining accurate contact information, facilitating efficient access to digestive health services in Spokane.
The subsequent section provides a conclusion to this discussion on Spokane digestive phone numbers.
Conclusion
The preceding discussion has explored the multifaceted aspects of the “spokane digestive phone number,” extending beyond its surface-level function as a mere point of contact. It has underscored the critical importance of accuracy, availability, specificity, verification, immediacy, relevance, and privacy in ensuring that individuals seeking digestive health services in Spokane can efficiently connect with the appropriate resources.
The reliability of healthcare contact information is paramount to effective access to care. Continued vigilance in maintaining and verifying the “spokane digestive phone number” is essential, promoting improved health outcomes and minimizing unnecessary burdens on patients navigating the healthcare system. This commitment to accuracy contributes directly to the well-being of the Spokane community.
