Jan

05

Communication is key with physician advisors

By Case Management Weekly

By Sharon Mass, PhD, ACM, and Donna Ukanowicz, MS, RN, ACM.

It is helpful for physician advisors and staff members to have viewing rights to each other’s electronic calendars and be able to communicate via text messaging or e-mail. The most important element is to be able to touch base with each other at any given time during the working day.

Determine the best mode of communication for different types of information. For example, if you need an immediate decision for an emergent need, you may wish to text with a contact number if verbal discussion is required. If the need is not urgent and can wait until the end of the day, you may wish to send an email and put in the header, “Reply needed by 5 p.m. today” or “FYI only” for information that does not need a response.