Dermatology Weekly

In residency, transitioning care to different providers can be a complicated process. Dr. Vincent DeLeo talks to Dr. Sophie Greenberg about strategies to improve patient handoffs among dermatology trainees. Dr. Greenberg identifies key issues that may hinder patient handoffs and poses evidence-based solutions that can help keep dermatology residents organized.

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We also bring you the latest in dermatology news and research:

1. Coronavirus resources from AAD target safe office practices, new telemedicine guidance
AAD President George J. Hruza, MD, assured members that AAD will maintain updated resource pages in a situation that’s changing by the day.

2. How to ramp up teledermatology in the age of COVID-19
Dr. Adam Friedman discusses the steps his institution is taking to prepare for more virtual visits.

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Things you will learn in this episode:

• Handoff problems are one of the top issues that are more prevalent in malpractice cases involving medical trainees vs nontrainees.
• Issues with handoffs occur between trainees as well as between trainees and attendings. “Communication skills may be underemphasized in residency, with lack of formal teaching on this matter,” Dr. Greenberg notes.
• Many electronic medical records have built-in functions to assist with patient handoffs, and there also are several HIPAA-compliant electronic apps that can help providers collaborate and stay organized.
• Mnemonics and other standardized tools that have proven effective in internal medicine inpatient settings may be easily implemented in the dermatology setting. “I also keep a notebook with stickers of each patient I see and jot down things to follow up. At the end of each day, I double check and periodically update my electronic handoff,” Dr. Greenberg explains.

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Hosts: Nick Andrews; Vincent A. DeLeo, MD (University of Southern California, Los Angeles)

Guests: Sophie A. Greenberg, MD (Columbia University Medical Center, New York); Adam Friedman, MD (George Washington University, Washington)

Show notes by: Alicia Sonners, Melissa Sears

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