Consult Processes Team

Problem

The consultation process is highly variable leading to delays in patient care.  Reaching the correct person when calling consults can be difficult and confusing. At this time, consulting teams must use a poorly organized SmartPage search system to determine who is on call. From the stand-point of the consultant, pages often lack important information needed to triage consults with preexisting responsibilities.

Project Goals

1. Identify resident perspectives on the current consult process

2. Create a database of pager numbers and helpful consultant information (i.e., what tests to order before calling, etc.)

3. Design and implement a paging template

Results

  • The consult team reached out to all consulting services in the hospital. We developed a large database of pagers and direct phone numbers for consultants. With this information, we started to develop tools for dispersing and sharing this information on a secure website for residents. 
  • In addition, we designed a new template for consult pages after surveying residents on the information they would find useful in a consult page. This new standard page was initiated in the Emergency Department and results are pending on the utilization and effectiveness of this standard template. 

Sam Shen, MD

Faculty Mentor & Team Coach
 

Danielle Goodrich, MD

Team Leader
Emergency Medicine Resident

The consult process is highly variable, leading to delays in patient care

Sanaa Suharwardy, MD

Vice Chair of Committees
Obstetrics & Gynecology Resident

Andrew Sun, MD

Senior Member
Urology Resident

Monica Sinha-Evenson, MD

Senior Member
Psychiatry Resident

Andrea Ament, MD

Core Member
Psychiatry Resident

Katie Doering, MD

Core Member
Emergency Medicine Resident

Ashrit Multani, MD

Core Member
Infectious Diseases Fellow

Akhila Pamula, MD

Core Member
Emergency Medicine Resident

Maria Tsiu, MD

Core Member
Emergency Medicine Resident

Linda Xu, MD

Core Member
Neurosurgery Resident