Remote Consultations?
Digital radiographs and high speed internet have made getting second opinions faster and a lot less expensive. Often when I take a radiograph that show a possible problem, I forward it to a specialist with a brief note of explanation, while my patient is still in my chair. If a patients problem is urgent I follow up my email with a phone call. If I am lucky, my specialist will come to the phone and he or she will look at my radiograph and give me an instant second opinion ( at no cost to the patient).
Usually my specialists cooperate because they are good people and also because there usually is a potential referral involved. I must admit that this routine can take some additional time, but my patients seem to appreciate the effort. I do this because I want to help my patient decide on a course of treatment, before they leave my office, and partly because given the way dental offices run its best not to delay communications with specialists and the required follow up phone call to my patient. I believe that having an immediate consult will eliminate the possibility of dropping the ball.
Emailing digital X-rays goes both ways and often we can get radiographs forwarded from specialist while they are in my office. This happens fairly often since patients have been to another dentist or specialist but haven't received a copy of the radiographs that were taken. Usually we get them emailed in advance but sometimes it just doesn't happen.
Of course this last second strategy doesn't always work, since my specialist maybe busy or not in the office when I call and in that event my patient just has to wait until I am able speak with my specialist. My patients usually understand and are pleased that I made the effort.
Of course sometimes it is necessary for my patients do go for a "physical" consult with my specialists since many diagnosis's require a hands on examination. If they are lucky and my specialists are able to see them ( I am located in a professional building with lots of dental specialists) I am able to send my patient to their office after I have seen them.
from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2017/09/remote-consultations.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/
Usually my specialists cooperate because they are good people and also because there usually is a potential referral involved. I must admit that this routine can take some additional time, but my patients seem to appreciate the effort. I do this because I want to help my patient decide on a course of treatment, before they leave my office, and partly because given the way dental offices run its best not to delay communications with specialists and the required follow up phone call to my patient. I believe that having an immediate consult will eliminate the possibility of dropping the ball.
Emailing digital X-rays goes both ways and often we can get radiographs forwarded from specialist while they are in my office. This happens fairly often since patients have been to another dentist or specialist but haven't received a copy of the radiographs that were taken. Usually we get them emailed in advance but sometimes it just doesn't happen.
Of course this last second strategy doesn't always work, since my specialist maybe busy or not in the office when I call and in that event my patient just has to wait until I am able speak with my specialist. My patients usually understand and are pleased that I made the effort.
Of course sometimes it is necessary for my patients do go for a "physical" consult with my specialists since many diagnosis's require a hands on examination. If they are lucky and my specialists are able to see them ( I am located in a professional building with lots of dental specialists) I am able to send my patient to their office after I have seen them.
from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2017/09/remote-consultations.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/
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