Best ways to communicate with specialists - This doctor learned that reading others' chart notes is not enough. - Medical Economics

Best ways to communicate with specialists - This doctor learned that reading others' chart notes is not enough. - Medical Economics: "In describing these contrasting forms of doctor-to-doctor communication, I use the terms 'parallel' and 'interactive' medicine. The first occurs 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 in face-to-face conversations, and by word emphasis and the give and take of dialogue. By working together this way, doctors can sometimes diagnose a condition or solve a medical problem that had remained elusive, despite the best efforts of each individual."