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Continue communicating with other medical colleagues
It was a rather unusual experience. I walked into the examination room to meet a new patient who had been accompanied by her mother. In the medical record history section my technician had recorded “referred by M.D.” as the reason for her visit. Her mother then handed me a referral note from the physician. The adolescent had recently been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder and was about to begin Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate, AstraZeneca) therapy, and her psychiatrist was requesting an eye consult.
Admittedly, as I read the referral letter I was a bit bewildered. I had not previously examined the patient, nor did I know the referring physician personally. And when was the last time that I — as an optometrist — received a referral from a psychiatrist? Nonetheless, I was both gratified and pleased to assist.
Optometry has come far
The more I reflect upon this particular encounter, I realize just how far optometry has come. As a profession, we’ve worked hard to gain the respect and collegiality of physicians and other health care providers. As a result, optometrists routinely interact with general practitioners, internists, pediatricians, allergists, rheumatologists, endocrinologists and neurologists. And, yes, even psychiatrists.
Needless to say, optometry’s integration did not happen overnight. Rather, it’s been the culmination of many fundamental and logical ‘events.’ Underscoring this change is the basic tenet that the visual system is affected by various diseases as well as a variety of medications. Without this consideration there is little reason for medicine and optometry to interact.
Next have been optometry’s efforts to redefine and expand its educational curriculum. We knew this initiative was imperative and that it had to come from within. After all, it’s always been our desire to better serve our patients’ needs. But perhaps more important than any other consideration has been the role of communication.
Communication: cornerstone of quality
Communication has always been the cornerstone of quality health care. We’ve long known that effective communication improves the doctor-patient relationship and enhances compliance. Given the complexity and high levels of specialization in health care today, we also recognize that timely interprofessional communication is essential in providing continuity and quality in patient care.
So, our mandate is actually quite simple. Continue to communicate. Whether it be via telephone, e-mail or traditional letter, we should make every effort to communicate with our medical colleagues. Because, in the final analysis, our efforts translate into much more than improved interprofessional relationships — they mean better patient care.