Page 55 - Hospitalists - Risks When You're the Doctor in the House (Part One)

SVMIC Hospitalists - Risks When You’re the Doctor in the House

Additional information regarding I-PASS as well as the Joint

Commission’s tips for successful handoffs can be found at
https://ipassinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IPASS-

2-Page-Summary.pdf. Further assistance can be obtained from
the I-PASS Institute, a company dedicated to providing hospitals

with assistance in implementing I-PASS. For help implementing
the I-PASS handoff program in your institution, you can visit

the I-PASS Institute website at www.ipassinstitute.com or email
info@ipassinstitute.com.

Hospitalists may find that a consultation with a specialist or

other physician is necessary to meet the patient’s healthcare
needs. The hospitalist often serves as the communication link

between the consultant and the referring physician such as a
PCP, for example. It is important for the hospital to specify at

which points specialists will take over the patient’s care and
how handoffs between the two services must be performed.

Recommendations to improve the facilitation of communication
include:

• Communicate the results of the consultation to the

referring physician in a timely manner, including an outline
of the specific plan of action you recommend. Verbally

communicate urgent and/or unexpected findings as soon
as possible after the consultation.

• Communicate your specific plan of action to the referring
physician to enhance continuity of care.

• Include any medication changes, and tests recommended
and performed, as well as the results and interpretation of

those tests.

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