How can you build a better relationship with healthcare providers in case management?

1 Understand their roles and goals

One of the first steps to building a better relationship with healthcare providers is to understand their roles and goals in the care team. Providers may have different scopes of practice, responsibilities, and priorities depending on their specialty, setting, and organization. For example, a primary care physician may focus on preventive care and chronic disease management, while a surgeon may focus on acute interventions and post-operative care. By recognizing their roles and goals, you can tailor your communication and collaboration to their needs and preferences, and avoid unnecessary conflicts or misunderstandings.

2 Communicate clearly and respectfully

Another key factor to building a better relationship with healthcare providers is to communicate clearly and respectfully. Communication is essential for coordinating care, sharing information, and resolving issues. However, communication can also be challenging, especially when you have to deal with different modes, formats, and frequencies of communication. For example, some providers may prefer phone calls, while others may prefer emails or secure messages. Some providers may want detailed reports, while others may want concise summaries. Some providers may expect timely responses, while others may be more flexible. To communicate effectively, you need to establish and follow the best practices for communication with each provider, such as using appropriate language, tone, and etiquette, confirming receipt and understanding, and providing feedback and appreciation.

3 Build trust and rapport

A third tip to building a better relationship with healthcare providers is to build trust and rapport. Trust and rapport are the foundations of any successful relationship, and they can help you overcome challenges, resolve conflicts, and achieve goals. To build trust and rapport, you need to demonstrate your competence, reliability, and integrity as a case manager, and show your respect, empathy, and support for the provider. You can also use strategies such as asking open-ended questions, listening actively, sharing relevant information, acknowledging achievements, and expressing gratitude to enhance your connection and rapport with the provider.

4 Seek feedback and improvement

A fourth tip to building a better relationship with healthcare providers is to seek feedback and improvement. Feedback and improvement are essential for learning, growing, and improving your performance and outcomes as a case manager. By seeking feedback and improvement, you can show your commitment to quality and excellence, and your willingness to adapt and change. You can also use feedback and improvement to identify and address any gaps, issues, or concerns that may affect your relationship with the provider. You can seek feedback and improvement from the provider directly, or from other sources such as your supervisor, peers, or clients.

5 Manage expectations and boundaries

A fifth tip to building a better relationship with healthcare providers is to manage expectations and boundaries. Expectations and boundaries are important for defining and maintaining your roles, responsibilities, and limits as a case manager, and for avoiding role confusion, role conflict, or role overload. By managing expectations and boundaries, you can ensure that you and the provider have a clear and mutual understanding of what you can and cannot do, what you expect from each other, and how you will handle any challenges or disagreements. You can also use expectations and boundaries to protect your time, energy, and resources, and to balance your personal and professional needs.

6 Celebrate successes and achievements

A final tip to building a better relationship with healthcare providers is to celebrate successes and achievements. Successes and achievements are the results of your hard work, dedication, and collaboration as a case manager and a care team member. By celebrating successes and achievements, you can recognize and appreciate the contributions and impact of each provider, and reinforce your positive and productive partnership. You can also use successes and achievements to motivate and inspire yourself and the provider to continue striving for excellence and improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?