Improving promptness and quality of hospitalist-consultant interactions at an academic teaching hospital

Communication between consulting and consultant services is essential to provide high-value care. We implemented a collaborative project between hospital medicine (HM), emergency medicine (EM), and departmental leadership of the major consulting services to provide feedback regarding consultant communication, promptness, and follow-up planning. We conducted pre- and postintervention surveys of HM and EM clinicians and measured the mean turnaround time (TAT) from consult order to consultant note completion. Perceptions of consultant promptness and follow-up communication improved postintervention. Mean TAT was significantly reduced postintervention (1098 vs. 1011 min, p =.002, confidence interval [CI]: 30.7–143.3). A collaborative approach using interdepartmental feedback improved perceptions of the quality of interactions with consulting services.