Notes and Letters in Orthopaedic Surgery Revisited: Can Surgeons Change?

Abstract

Outpatient clinic letters are a widely used and effective means of communication between doctors and nurses. In the literature there was an absence of professional guidelines detailing how outpatient letters should be constructed. A previous study highlighted the importance of effective communication by identifying information deemed important by clinicians and recording it in a structured letter format. General practitioners (GPs) and orthopaedic surgeons perceived diagnosis, treatment, management plan, date of injury, current condition and findings on physical examination to be most important. Nursing staff favoured a clear management plan, particularly any requirement for investigations on arrival at clinic.