Endocrinologist

We conducted validation interviews with doctors to find out their feedback and thoughts regarding Physician Liaisons. They provided insightful responses that will surely help better our services and what we can do for their practices. 

Here are the questions that were asked:

1. What are the top specialties you refer out to most (ortho, OBGYN, Pain, ENT, etc), and for what (conditions/symptoms/treatment)?

2. Besides excellent patient care, when referring to a physician, what factors help you make that decision to send to that physician or practice? (examples: cell phone number, them meeting, you face to face, location, etc)

3. Is there something a physician liaison or medical rep that stands out to you in a positive or negative way, and why?

4. If a physician liaison comes to your practice to discuss building a patient-referring relationship between you and their specialists, what can they say/ do that would provide value for you or your staff?

5. What is the greatest value a physician liaison would be able to provide to your practice?

Written Validation Interview: 

Dr. Stephen P.  - Endocrinologist

1. Pediatric Nephrology, Adolescent Medicine, Adolescent GYN, Pediatric GI

2. Personal knowledge of style and results of the doctor or practice being referred to. Sometimes this is unknown of course or controlled by forces outside my control.

3. They have become rather vestigial where I work. The emphasis is on patient care volume and generating income (RVU’s). There is not significant academic learning where I work now. The times are changing more in that direction for everyone in my opinion.  

4 & 5. My partners refuse to see liaison’s yet I still do occasionally (perhaps out of habit). They seem to consider them as variations on a pharmaceutical rep theme and subtracting from their productivity. We have ample access to research information here and there are frequently online and in-person CME options (more the former now due to COVID).

Dr. Chi T. - Endocrinologist

1. I commonly refer my patients to ophthalmology for diabetic eye disease and podiatry for diabetes foot disease. I also refer to general surgery/endocrine surgery for thyroid cancer and hyperparathyroidism

2. We are encouraged to refer patients within the health care system. Geographical location is also a major consideration

3. Those people who are willing to understand the need for physician practice tend to stand out

4. He/She just need to tell me the location, the specialty/the type of surgeries performed, how to refer, and what types of insurance are not accepted by the specialist

5. I have never met a physician liaison in my practice so I don't know.