Jeremy Couper1, Edwin Harari. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. couperjw@svhm.org.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Carefully crafted medical consultation letters can serve the dual purpose of transmitting the consulted psychiatrist's opinion to the referring doctor and enhancing the quality of the doctor-patient therapeutic relationship. Using the same document for both purposes simultaneously can enhance the consultation letter's overall effectiveness, as illustrated by three case examples. CONCLUSIONS: Future teaching programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate psychiatry students should incorporate consultation letter writing workshops to improve students' skills in clearly expressing their opinions and management recommendations in written form.
OBJECTIVE: Carefully crafted medical consultation letters can serve the dual purpose of transmitting the consulted psychiatrist's opinion to the referring doctor and enhancing the quality of the doctor-patient therapeutic relationship. Using the same document for both purposes simultaneously can enhance the consultation letter's overall effectiveness, as illustrated by three case examples. CONCLUSIONS: Future teaching programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate psychiatry students should incorporate consultation letter writing workshops to improve students' skills in clearly expressing their opinions and management recommendations in written form.