This was what happen during the conversation with gynae MO:
me: Good morning doctor, i had a patient with right hypochondrium pain and vaginal discharge,,,,,,,,We like to refer patient to you..Can doctor come for review?
She: Why can’t you get the gynae history? you must be crazy, call me up on a Saturday and refer a vaginal discharge case to me?
I’m was shocked and quickly hang up the phone.
Well, of all the calls, this was the worst referral call that i had made.
Guess, I should be more careful with the wording and reasons. I should had a better understand the indication of referral and I must remember her name,,, if she on-call that day, better not to call her.
In this big hospital, different specialties MOs basically get calls from various department, for referral of cases.
Sometime i wonder is it necessary to refer patient or just want to be bear less responsible?
Just the other day, referring a newly diagnosed type 2 DM patient who was admitted with abscess in the perianal region.
The Medical MO asked why can’t you all manage it? Well, I replied that we want a medical review.
If is not because of my MO order, I would have taken the task myself. It is simple task, perscribe 2 oral OHA and monitored the blood glucose, end of story. The medical MO can spare his time on other patients instead.
So, I am really wonder, sharing responsibilities or don’t want bear any responsibilities.
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July 7, 2007 at 10:11 pm
huajern
I agree a lot of referrals are unnecessary. But as a HO, it is better to follow ‘orders’ from your MO or specialist.
If the patient you mentioned has a bad infection, he/she ideally requires short term insulin till the sepsis resolves. Also make sure he/she doesn’t have DKA. Looking for complications of DM is important, but that ought to be handled on a working day, not by the oncall MO on a weekend.