Delay in patient care if posed in the referral information not provided letter in a timely manner Referring physician frustration as referring question not answered; this may generate another referral STYLE Lack of content planning, Encourage the learner to Disorganized content and organization, and white use templates for lack of content planning space, making the letter conditions commonly Wordy difficult to scan by a busy seen No attention to visual clinician Tell the learner to review layout with no white letter filled with all dictations before space medical jargon and filler sending so they can pay words that do not add to attention to the visuals of the meaning of the letter the letter (white space) and check for errors Encourage the learner to use bullet points in the body of dictation (e.g. history of presenting illness, physical examination) Encourage the learner to use numbered lists (e.g. past medical history, medications, plan) Encourage the learner to use tables to reflect a lot of information in a visually effective manner (e.g. table for muscle grading numbers) DIAGNOSTIC Description of findings is Frustration on referring Variable approaches in poor, vague, variable, or physician’s part diagnostic imaging are a IMAGING CONSULTATION inconclusive, with a lack Potential for common problem. Ensure REPORT of detail misunderstanding the learner chooses one regarding diagnosis and approach that they are next steps, leading to able to articulate and inappropriate use of routinely use resources (i.e. Create a template of unnecessary additional acceptable phrases for tests) common findings and Patient safety may be opinions compromised if there is a the learner to delay in treatment synthesize and because it was not clear consolidate clear additional tests were findings, opinions, and needed management plans
Delay in patient care if information not provided in a timely manner Referring physician frustration as referring question not answered; this may generate another referral posed in the referral letter STYLE Disorganized content and lack of content planning Wordy No attention to visual layout with no white space Lack of content planning, organization, and white space, making the letter difficult to scan by a busy clinician letter filled with medical jargon and filler words that do not add to the meaning of the letter Encourage the learner to use templates for conditions commonly seen Tell the learner to review all dictations before sending so they can pay attention to the visuals of the letter (white space) and check for errors Encourage the learner to use bullet points in the body of dictation (e.g. history of presenting illness, physical examination) Encourage the learner to use numbered lists (e.g. past medical history, medications, plan) Encourage the learner to use tables to reflect a lot of information in a visually effective manner (e.g. table for muscle grading numbers) DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING CONSULTATION REPORT Description of findings is poor, vague, variable, or inconclusive, with a lack of detail Frustration on referring physician’s part Potential for misunderstanding regarding diagnosis and next steps, leading to inappropriate use of resources (i.e. unnecessary additional tests) Patient safety may be compromised if there is a delay in treatment because it was not clear additional tests were needed Variable approaches in diagnostic imaging are a common problem. Ensure the learner chooses one approach that they are able to articulate and routinely use Create a template of acceptable phrases for common findings and opinions the learner to synthesize and consolidate clear findings, opinions, and management plans
Communicator_T7%20Coaching_Resident%20coaching%20on%20common%20written%20communications.docx