Communication Breakdowns Can Contribute to Medical Malpractice

July 10, 2011

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms what medical malpractice attorneys and physicians already suspected: There is a breakdown in the lines of communication between primary care physicians, also called PCPs, and medical specialists that could be putting patients at risk.

The study -- which analyzed data compiled by the 2008 Health System Change Health Tracking Physician Survey -- found a marked difference in how PCPs and specialists viewed the quality of information-sharing going on between them. The lack of accurate, timely communication about patient medical histories, chronic conditions and lab reports is not only the likely cause of duplicative or unnecessary testing, it could definitely result in harm to the very same patients seeking help when two different doctors pursue separate treatment paths without adequately informing the other.

How Do PCPs and Specialists Perceive Communication Between Them?

Specialists and PCPs varied greatly in their responses to questions concerning the type and quality of communication between themselves and fellow physicians treating the same patient. For example, nearly 70 percent of PCPs reported that they consistently send along detailed medical histories and explanations for the consultations to specialists they are referring patients to, but only 35 percent of specialists report regularly receiving that sort of information.

This huge gap is indicative of the larger problem of having multiple physicians treating patients concurrently -- without sufficient communication of a patient's unique history (prescription medications, tests that have been performed, allergies, comorbid conditions, etc.) from the PCP, a specialist is at an unfair advantage when attempting to make a diagnosis and medical mistakes can occur. Furthermore, a specialist who is essentially seeking a diagnosis in a vacuum -- without access to vital patient information that could have a huge impact on the treatment protocol -- is much more likely to make poor diagnostic and treatment choices that will in the worst case endanger the patient and in the best case prolong the patient's recovery.

What Can Be Done to Improve Communications Between Physicians?

The authors of this study offer several different methods by which communication can be improved between PCPs and the specialists to whom they entrust their patients' care. The suggested methods are aimed at improving any of three practice characteristics proven to increase the level of care provided to patients:
- Having an adequate amount of time to consult with each patient
- Providing high-quality and easily understood care reports to patients
- Arranging nurse or physician assistant-level care in order to monitor patients with chronic conditions

Recognizing that patients can only be helped by the free flow of information between PCPs and specialists, several methods can improve communication. Most of these involve reforms to the medical record-keeping system and patient care coordinators, but there are also some that can be handled by the patient him or herself.

Care coordination between physicians, clinics, hospital systems and other health care providers can be improved by:
- Adopting advanced health information technology like electronic medical records that can be easily transferred between providers
- Setting up PCPs as part of patient-centered medical organizations wherein PCPs have established relationships and open lines of communication with a number of specialists
- Employing patient care coordinators who are tasked with ensuring that patient records are accessible by PCPs and any consulting physicians
- Having patients keep their own records of medications being taken, allergies, test results, chronic conditions and current treating doctors

By improving the communication between PCPs, consulting physicians and specialists, it is possible to dramatically improve the patient care experience and decrease the chances of medical mistakes. With both doctors and patients being proactive and working together to ensure that vital records are accessible, health care will improve all around.

Unfortunately, though, regardless of how many strides are taken to improve information access and keep the lines of communication open between providers, medical malpractice could still occur. If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence of a medical provider, seek the advice of a skilled medical malpractice attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights and any options that may be available to you.

Article provided by Powers & Santola, LLP
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