4 Tips for Better Communication Between Doctors and Attorneys

In order to help people suffering from an injury, doctors and attorneys often work hand in hand. This close working relationship is essential to the success of the recovery process, both physically and financially. Making the process smoother is a constant focus for many doctors and attorneys, so we’ve put together 4 tips for better communication, which will make doctors’ and attorneys’ jobs easier, in addition to their clients’ and patients’.

Trust your partner

The most important aspect of any relationship is trusting your partner. While it’s important to become invested in the wellbeing of your client or patient, it’s helpful to remember that the other party is also doing what they think is best in their professional opinion. Trusting that everyone is doing their job is easier if you ask any questions you may have about their process and communicate through each step of the process. 

Helping your partner to trust you is just as important. Avoid getting defensive or offended at any questions that they may have for you and implement open communication. Nurturing trust between the recovery team will ultimately lead to a better result for the injured party.

Know what role you play

Sometimes, when you are invested in a patient’s wellbeing, it might be tempting to overstep if you question your partner’s methods. While this is understandable, it’s essential that you remember your specialty, and allow your colleague to do what they are expert in. Staying in your lane will lead to more constructive communication and will help build trust even further in your working relationship, both now and in the future.

Consider the context of the situation

Both attorneys and doctors are very busy. They have many important and urgent matters to attend to, and therefore being considerate of the other’s time is one of the key parts to considering the context of any interaction. If a phone call seems short and abrupt, consider that they may be busy and trying to be as efficient with their time as possible in order to better serve their customers. 

Also, consider elements such as the opposing forces they are working against, whether that be a stubborn physical injury or a difficult opposing counsel. Remembering that your recovery partner is also working against difficult situations will help you communicate more compassionately and effectively, while avoiding any misunderstandings.

Address your patients’ concerns

It can become easy to take over a situation and do, in your professional opinion, what is best for the client. However, it’s important to also consider the patient’s concerns and address their worries in a timely manner. The customer comes first, and sometimes that means being flexible with your original approach to their recovery. Communicating with the attorney or doctor on the case about the issues that have been brought to your attention can help you both better serve the injured person and lead to a happier outcome.

Strong communication is essential 

In any workplace, strong communication is a cornerstone of success. Especially when a client’s wellbeing is on the line, the nature of their recovery team’s communication can make or break their outcomes. Communication is a skill, and it can take time to build a relationship that will be the most effective at serving the injured party. By working at it a little bit with each patient, doctors and attorneys can become a powerful duo and serve their clients better. 

For more information, please contact us.