Building Relationships with the Medical Specialist

 

Creating a reputation as a provider that is Clinically Excellent is only ONE STEP in the equation for practice success.  Being organized and on task is the other, this is a critically important part of running an efficient office and the PERCEPTION of others.   One of the things my office does regularly when we refer patients, is to include not only a WRITTEN REFERRAL, but also additional information to help the medical specialist office in seeing our patients.  Why do you think they like to see ours FIRST?  This is critically important when you need a “favor” and have to squeeze a patient in.  Here is the list of what we send, keep in mind that if this is DIFFICULT for you to complete, there are issues with your office workflows and EMR systems.  They are generally easy to fix.  Once those are corrected, service like this to the MD Specialist office will be second nature and EASY.  By the way, this is also true of MRI studies.  We include #1 with examination data such as neurological findings AND #2 to make the intake easier. For Imaging facilities, you only need those. 

1:  Referral – outlining WHY you want the patient to be seen, what “significant” findings you are concerned about such as Extruded Disc, Myelopathy, Syrinx, Spondylolisthesis etc.  If you don’t know the EXACT definition of each of the previous words, visit www.teachdoctors.com and take some courses.  They will help you.

2:  Patient Demographic Sheet – this should be printed out of your EMR, that is super easy and give all the pertinent information such as Date of Injury, Insurance Information, Insurance Adjustor and Patient Contact Information.  Call your EMR company to find out how to do that, if you use Software Motif, it is already in there.

3:  Copies of MRI Reports – this make it EASY for the MD, they will go onto the PACs of which ever facility completed the study. If you don’t know what PACs means, google it and learn.

4:  EMG/NCV or Other Studies – these are also important to send to the MD.  YOU are the one that is managing the patient, therefore YOU should be working the patient up, NOT the MD.  They do not want to waste their time ordering tests, particularly if it is a surgeon.  Your job is to arrive at an accurate diagnosis, treat the patient, order all necessary tests and refer when indicated.  IF YOU ABDICATE ALL YOUR DOCTORING TO SOMEONE ELSE, YOU ARE JUST A TECHNICIAN and you will be treated as such.  This included pfNCS testing as well…if you don’t know what that is look it up. 

5:  Your Initial and Most Recent Re-evaluation Report – I include my initial as well as my most recent re-evaluation report.  This gives the MD a “path” to use when evaluating and interviewing the patient PLUS it showcases your expertise.   They can review your findings and see first hand that you actually worked the patient up. 

From this point forward I want you to use this process, it WILL GENERATE REFERRALS. If you need help, email me.