Dos and don'ts for managing the referral process

Effective interoffice communication

Today we have more and more interdisciplinary dentistry and multidoctor involvement in cases. Traditional ways of doing things are insufficient. Simply look at the world of dental implants, which often necessitates two offices working together toward a final case design. Have doctors really developed the communication skills necessary to maximize patient care?

Create better interoffice communication. Anytime a patient is referred for interdisciplinary care, a conversation between the two doctors should take place. All too often, written communication goes unread or simply lands in a file and certain factors are overlooked, such as predisposition to care, personality type, etc. ... all of which can compromise patient care. Just a little open communication can eliminate such possibilities.

Don't make the process difficult for the patient. In many cases, patients are either unclear of their next steps or delay treatment long enough to have complications before they arrive. It is beneficial for the practice to actually make the next appointment for patients while they are still in the office so there is no question about whom they are to see and when.