Annotations

N.  Reevaluate/Consider Consultation

OBJECTIVE

Resolve the patient's health concern.

ANNOTATION

If the patient’s health concern persists despite reassurance and education, the clinician should reevaluate the patient's medical data to assure that a diagnosis has not been missed and assess the patient’s status for the next course of action. The clinician should provide the patient with additional reassurance and educational material, if indicated, keeping in mind that patient dissatisfaction is often related to communication variables. To increase patient satisfaction the clinician should provide detailed explanations to the patient using less medical jargon.

The clinician should consider discussing the patient’s medical data with another clinician or consulting with or referring to a specialist. The consulted specialist may be able to interact and communicate more effectively with the patient regarding this type of health concern or may have experience in communicating with patients who exhibit similar health concerns.

Consultation sources, when clinically appropriate, include but are not limited to:

• Social Services
• Family Advocacy Program
• Preventive Medicine/Public Health
• Bioenvironmental Engineering/Environmental Sciences/Industrial Hygiene
• Reproductive Toxicology
• Genetic Counseling
• Health Promotions
• Medical Specialty Consultations
  • Infectious Disease
  • Psychiatry/Psychology
  • Pulmonary
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Allergy/Immunology
  • Women’s Clinic – OB/GYN
• Health Information/Education Sources
• Spiritual Counseling