Consultation practice: competition or collaboration?

Concordance with recommendations, and two-way communication, are two prime factors in consultation. They tend to determine whether the consultation will be competitive or collaborative. The literature shows that privately consulted physicians tend to respond with written reports four times as frequently as residents on hospital services, or any teaching physician. The consultation process has three parts: preconsultation, consultation, and postconsultation. Different needs and problems arise at different stages. One large factor is respect, which needs to be taught and encouraged.