Guest Post: Bridge the communication gap with physicians with these tips

Do you sometimes feel like you and the physicians at your hospital aren’t communicating as well as you could be? Even the best of us can feel like a buzzing fly, annoying physicians when trying to gather needed information in the middle of a busy day, says James Haering, DO, SFHM, a physician and the vice president of appeals and physician services for Resonant Physician Advisory Services in Tacoma, Washington.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Adopting the following simple strategies help clear the paths of communication:

• Make sure physicians know who you are. It seems obvious, but make a point of ensuring all physicians know who [the CDI team is] are and how to reach them. “I can’t have a relationship [with you] if I don’t know who you are, where you are, or even how to get ahold of you,” says Haering. “Depending on the size of the hospital, you might literally want to put a photo of yourself on the unit with your name and contact information … This will be a great help if you have a doctor that is new or who only comes by occasionally.”
• Hit the floor. If you spend most of your day cloistered away looking at electronic medical records, you’re missing a valuable opportunity. Relying too heavily on the electronic record likely means [CDI professionals] aren’t near the patient and aren’t near [physicians], Haering says. Face time is critical to ensuring the best possible communication between physicians and CDI professionals.
• Speak carefully. Although CDI specialists pride themselves as good communicators, remember that coding terminology can be a foreign language for physicians. Phrase your requests carefully so it doesn’t appear that you are challenging the physician’s clinical judgement. . “Even accidentally making the doctor appear wrong, is a quick way to make them shut down and not work with you. you make the doctor look    says Haering.

By taking the right approach and making sure the physician knows you and can reach you easily, you’ll be much more likely to foster a relationship that is open and that can benefit the patient.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the newsletter Case Management Monthly.