Page 49 - 2021 Risk Reduction Series - Communication Part One

SVMIC Risk Reduction Series: Communication

• Ask to be notified of admissions, including the diagnosis

and name of admitting hospitalist.

• Send a summary of the patient’s progress and major

changes in health status or diagnosis.

• Ask to be given updates on the patient’s progress and
major changes in health status or diagnosis.

• Ask to be notified of complications during the
hospitalization.

• Request a phone call from the hospitalist if the patient
requires prompt follow-up in the office.

• Request notification from the hospitalist at the time of

patient discharge and verify that the patient has been
scheduled for a follow-up appointment in the office.

• Ask the hospitalist to communicate pending test results to
your office.

Unsolicited Test Reports

Another communication issue occurs when results are

miscommunicated. When an unsolicited test result is received
regarding an established patient of the practice, it should be

handled the same way as one that was personally ordered. The
patient needs to be notified that the provider is in receipt of the

report in error and has or will notify the ordering physician. Do
not automatically assume normal results do not require action,

as occasionally results within normal range of the laboratory
may not be the expected result for the patient.

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