It can be really convenient to ask physicians, APPs, and other clinical caregivers you work with for their opinions on a personal health issue. “Curb side” medicine is when a clinician offers care or advice informally outside of an official visit. Curb side consults are common between two providers as part of the care of patients. While asking for medical advice at work from a physician or advanced practice provider is understandable, doing so for your own personal health concerns outside of a clinical visit can potentially put both the provider and you at risk.
For example, if a caregiver asked an advanced practice provider for advice about symptoms he was having during a side conversation at work, the clinician might give some quick advice without having a complete history, exam, or tests. There would be no documentation of the visit, so it would also be difficult for future healthcare providers to identify trends or worsening of symptoms. If the caregiver’s condition was serious, informal conversations like these could delay treatment and possibly cause serious harm.
Unfortunately, there have been instances across Intermountain, and across healthcare in general, where caregivers inappropriately sought the expertise of a clinician for their personal healthcare needs and inadvertently caused preventable harm to themselves or others. This can be avoided by getting care in the appropriate place and time.
“We’re in a fortunate situation where we’re surrounded by so many expert clinicians every day, who are friends, coworkers, and members of our personal communities,” says Natalie Meyers, senior clinical operations leader for safety. “When we ask that caregivers avoid curb side consults with clinicians, it’s not done out of a reluctance to help. Rather, it’s a desire to provide care in the right way and in the right place so we can avoid potential harm, which can happen when we don’t follow established guidelines.”
Remember to:
- Avoid curb side consults with physicians, APPs, and other clinical caregivers
- Access care in the appropriate locations and times so you can get the time and attention you need in a formal setting
- Follow the same processes and policies that apply to patients when seeking care
- If care is urgently needed, remember you can visit an InstaCare or emergency department. Connect Care is also available online for caregivers at a discounted rate.
Review these policies for more guidance about curb side consults:
- Clinician Relationship Medical Group Guideline
- Outpatient Hospital Orders Policy (see Provision 1.1)