0:01

What can we learn from, from this communication failure?

0:04

Examples that I, I showed you is that

0:08

communication of the non-routine,

0:11

but perhaps life-changing results

0:14

of a radiological examination are

0:17

becoming equally a duty of radiologist,

0:22

as is our duty of interpreting such studies.

0:25

So it's, it's, it's, the onus is falling on us on,

0:29

unfortunately, now, in this day

0:30

and age, if we think that a non-routine,

0:33

but something that can significantly alter patients life or,

0:38

or, or, or the physical state of the patient, if missed

0:43

for a considerable period of time,

0:44

that onus will fall on us also.

0:47

And, and, and, and, and,

0:48

and both the, the courts as well as a CR has

0:53

clear, clearly said that radiologists must

0:57

verbally communicate urgent

1:00

or significant unexpected findings

1:02

to the referring physicians.

1:04

So, so that is a broad term, right?

1:08

So all the lawyers have to do is that

1:11

it is a significant finding and, and, and,

1:16

and then you, you fall in that, in that picture

1:19

because, hey, this was RCC,

1:23

potential RCC potential time

1:26

is a significant life altering finding

1:29

and should have been communicated with the physician.

1:34

So what I, I have learned

1:36

and looking at, uh, these, having gone through these cases

1:40

and then, and then then doing some, uh, lit search on this,

1:45

uh, is that if a radiologist

1:48

or a trainee who's working with the radiologist, uh,

1:51

cannot give the referring reach the referring physician

1:54

that we can, we can call up their np their PAs,

1:57

that even their nurse who is associated with that case,

2:00

even though she's not ready to take this, just you have

2:03

to tell them that you were with this, uh, with this patient,

2:05

you, you, you have to tell them

2:07

and tell her to tell the, uh,

2:09

referring physicians about that.

2:11

So you can do that.

2:13

But if you are not able to reach any of the team members,

2:19

then it becomes your responsibility in such scenario

2:24

where you think that this finding can alter patient's, uh,

2:29

uh, state, physical state

2:32

or, uh, for a, if, if, if it's missed

2:35

for a considerable period of time,

2:37

you can directly communicate with the patient,

2:40

call the patient up, tell them that, Hey, I'm seeing this.

2:43

I'm not sure about this.

2:45

Make sure you go to your PCP make,

2:47

or if it's something more urgent, make sure you go to the,

2:50

uh, uh, ed and get this taken care of.

2:54

So, and document it that you call the patient up, you talk

2:58

with patient's, wife or family member

3:00

and let them know you can, you can do that.

3:03

Absolutely. I, I have done it multiple, multiple times.

3:06

Uh, communicated directly

3:08

with the patient when I could not get hold

3:09

of any team member.