Simple Courtesy's
The technological age has many wonderful attributes, but it also has some not so wonderful qualities.
Physicians have gotten complacent when it comes to discussing cases with our colleagues.
There have been terms coined by Dr. Hoenig of "parallel" and "interactive" medicine. He defines the first as occurring when doctors who follow the same patient communicate indirectly, through consult notes or notations in a hospital chart. Medical care is provided in parallel by each of the physicians, who have no contact other than reading each other's notes. Frequently, the documentation is illegible or incomplete, and doesn't fully convey the physician's thought process.
In the second type of communication, interactive medicine, doctors discuss patient care with each other, either on the phone or in person. The interaction facilitates the exchange of information and communication is enhanced through body language, face-to-face conversations, and by word emphasis and the give and take of dialogue. This two heads approach can many times expedite the workup and diagnosis that may have been elusive otherwise.
Physicians cannot contact each other every time they see a patient, but in certain cases, this direct physician-to-physician dialogue should be the norm, rather than the exception.
Relationships among physicians are especially important and it is beneficial to our patient's care. I would love to see this part of medicine improve even as we advance technologically.
Physicians have gotten complacent when it comes to discussing cases with our colleagues.
There have been terms coined by Dr. Hoenig of "parallel" and "interactive" medicine. He defines the first as occurring when doctors who follow the same patient communicate indirectly, through consult notes or notations in a hospital chart. Medical care is provided in parallel by each of the physicians, who have no contact other than reading each other's notes. Frequently, the documentation is illegible or incomplete, and doesn't fully convey the physician's thought process.
In the second type of communication, interactive medicine, doctors discuss patient care with each other, either on the phone or in person. The interaction facilitates the exchange of information and communication is enhanced through body language, face-to-face conversations, and by word emphasis and the give and take of dialogue. This two heads approach can many times expedite the workup and diagnosis that may have been elusive otherwise.
Physicians cannot contact each other every time they see a patient, but in certain cases, this direct physician-to-physician dialogue should be the norm, rather than the exception.
Relationships among physicians are especially important and it is beneficial to our patient's care. I would love to see this part of medicine improve even as we advance technologically.
Labels: communication, healthcare, relationships
posted by Anonymous at 5:56 AM
1 Comments:
Dan, you are like a breath of fresh air. I wish more doctors felt as you. Patients harbor a fear that communication is lacking within the medical profession...and they will be a victim of the system.
I hope you never leave the field as you suggested as a possibility in your earlier blog from last week.
There is another physician practicing in Floyd County who has entertained leaving the medical profession to become a minister. I have told him many, many times he is right where he belongs. His ministry is that of a physician. He is a very sound physician who incorporates his practice with compassion and good works. And his patients are very lucky to have him care for them. Dr. Bill is a minister...maybe not a Billy Graham type, but a minister just the same.
Keep up the good work, Dan. It is refreshing to hear your comments.
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