This dedicated team manages telephone calls for the NIH main switchboard at 301-496-4000. Operators are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
NIH Telephone Operator Services are essential and straightforward:
- Code Blue Emergencies – responding to and following through on critical medical situations
- Paging Services – including a wide array of announcements ranging from critical care to daily notifications
- Placing Long Distance Calls – assisting the NIH community with international connectivity (outside of the USA)
- Social Work Support – assisting patients in communicating with family members around the world
- Communicating with Fire and Rescue – to facilitate the needs of the NIH community and surrounding area
- Audio Conference Calls– call the operators at: 301-496-4517 to setup a conference call with MCI
Many other services are provided by the NIH Operators on a daily basis and are equally indispensable, including but not limited to:
- Locating Telephone Numbers for Doctors, Employees and Services
- Locating NIH Institutes Referring Media Calls
- Inquiries for Publications
- Referring Scientific or Research Related Calls
- Assisting TTY/TDD Callers with General Information
- Transmitting Facsimiles and Telegrams
For additional information, please contact the NIH Help Desk: