What do you do if physicians are not responding to your communication attempts?

1 Identify the root cause

The first step is to try to understand why physicians are not responding to you. There may be various reasons, such as workload, stress, distraction, lack of interest, or misunderstanding. Some of these factors may be beyond your control, but others may be related to how you communicate with them. For example, are you clear and concise in your messages? Do you provide relevant and timely information? Do you respect their preferences and availability? Do you follow up appropriately? By identifying the root cause, you can tailor your communication strategy accordingly and avoid unnecessary frustration.

3 Build rapport and trust

The third step is to build rapport and trust with physicians. This can help you establish a positive and professional relationship that facilitates communication and collaboration. You can do this by showing respect, appreciation, empathy, and curiosity. For example, you can acknowledge their expertise and experience, thank them for their cooperation and feedback, express your understanding of their challenges and perspectives, and ask them for their opinions and suggestions. You can also show interest in their personal and professional goals and achievements, and find common ground or shared values. By building rapport and trust, you can enhance your credibility and influence with physicians.

4 Seek feedback and improvement

The fourth step is to seek feedback and improvement from physicians. This can help you identify and address any issues or gaps in your communication skills and style. You can do this by asking them for their expectations and preferences, listening to their concerns and complaints, and responding to their questions and requests. You can also ask them for their evaluation and suggestions on how you can communicate better with them. You should be open and receptive to their feedback, and show your willingness and commitment to improve. By seeking feedback and improvement, you can demonstrate your professionalism and respect for physicians.

5 Escalate when necessary

The fifth step is to escalate the situation when necessary. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may still face difficulties or barriers in communicating with physicians. This can have negative consequences for patient care, teamwork, or quality improvement. In such cases, you may need to involve other parties, such as your supervisor, your peers, or your organization's leadership. You should do this in a respectful and constructive way, and explain the reasons and the goals of your escalation. You should also document your communication attempts and outcomes, and follow the policies and procedures of your organization. By escalating when necessary, you can protect your interests and responsibilities, and seek support and resolution.

6 Learn and adapt

The sixth step is to learn and adapt from your communication experiences with physicians. This can help you improve your communication skills and strategies, and avoid repeating the same mistakes or problems. You can do this by reflecting on your communication successes and failures, analyzing the feedback and outcomes you received, and identifying the lessons and best practices you learned. You can also seek additional resources and training on communication skills, such as books, courses, workshops, or mentors. By learning and adapting, you can enhance your communication competence and confidence with physicians.

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?