Creating Collegiality with Colleagues: Part I

Neil Baum, MD, and Neeraj Kohli, MD, MBA

Neil Baum, MD, is Clinical Associate Professor of Urology, Tulane Medical School
New Orleans, LA, and author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice-Ethically, Effectively, and Economically, Jones Bartlett Publishers.

Neeraj Kohli, MD, MBA, is Director, Division of Urogynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Department of Ob/Gyn, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Every physician is asked to see a patient for a second opinion. Most second opinions are in agreement with the first opinion, but what should you do if a colleague’s patient wishes to switch to your practice? If you take over the care of the patient, you are at risk for alienating your colleague and creating ill will. Also, when the situation is reversed and one of your patients sees one of your colleagues, you can be sure that you will never see that patient again. Far better, if you are in agreement with your colleague’s opinion, send him/her a note, stating that you will be recommending that the patient return to him/her (example shown below).

Bottom line: We need to get along with our colleagues, and returning a patient is one of the best ways to solidify your relationship with your fellow physicians.

Example:

Dear Dr. XXXX,

I have seen XXXX for a problem of XXXX. I told him that I was in agreement with your decision to XXXX. I also told him that he was in very good hands and I suggested that he make a follow-up appointment to proceed with your plan of action. If there is anything else you need from me, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or to send me a note.

Sincerely,
Dr. XXXX