Objectivity in Communication  

Responding Appropriately to Patient Care Situations Involving Other Providers

When a physician encounters a disagreement with a colleague, an unanticipated outcome in patient care, or a notice of a lawsuit, an already challenging practice environment gets even hotter. A physician’s ability to respond appropriately to patient care situations involving other providers is crucial. Expressing oneself objectively in both written and oral communication is key to promoting continued patient care and, if applicable, defense of a malpractice claim.

In these charged environments, many providers have rushed to confess their shortcomings or criticize a colleague’s care (which can appear to be self-serving). This can lead to undesirable consequences, among them:

• Learning later that the outcome was unrelated to the care given
• Learning later that there were additional factors that influenced treatment choices
• Acting as a trigger for the filing of a lawsuit
• Being pulled into a lawsuit against another provider