Consult

Question 1

List the steps in calling a consult.

Answer 1

1. Introduce yourself.
2. Provide patient name, MRN, and location in the hospital.
3. Ask a focused specific question (“Our team is requesting your help for…”)
4. Provide the admitting diagnosis, pertinent HPI, PMHx, PSHx, FamHx, labs, and radiology findings
5. Thorough, relevant hospital course
6. Conclude with working diagnosis/clinical impression (“Based on his presentation, our working diagnosis is…This is what we’ve done thus far…”)
7. Comment on urgency of consult

Question 2

List the steps in doing a handoff (I-PASS).

Answer 2

1. Illness severity (stable/unstable)
2. Patient Summary (summary statement, events prior to admission/diagnosis, hospital course, ongoing assessment/plan)
3. Action List (to-do, timeline)
4. Situation Awareness and Contingency Plan
5. Synthesis (summarize, ask questions)
6. Code status