A physician will usually want to take a call that is

A physician prioritizes urgent calls from the hospital primarily because these calls can pertain to critical situations where immediate decisions or interventions are required. Urgent calls often involve updates about a patient’s condition, results from emergency procedures, or requests for quick consultations regarding acute care. This means that timely communication is essential to ensure positive patient outcomes and efficient healthcare delivery.

While calls about prescription refills, progress reports, or non-urgent interactions with accountants are important, they generally do not carry the same level of immediate importance as an urgent call from the hospital. These non-urgent matters can often be handled later and do not usually impact a patient's immediate care or safety. In contrast, an urgent call could indicate the need for immediate action, making it a higher priority for the physician.