:: Dysautonomia Youth Network of America, Inc. ::

Regular communications with our dysautonomia physician is critical to your child's well-being and care. Part of regular communication occurs at your child's doctors appointments. Sometimes you will also need to call the doctor for quick feed-back. Sometimes 'faxing' the doctor can be a helpful tool for maintaining communication and contact.

Faxing the doctor can be useful when you have a question that does not require the doctor's immediate attention or in the circumstance when leaving a message with the receptionist is not optimal. Think of the fax as a way to be certain that your words are used to convey the essential message of your child's situation to the doctor without a clerk 'translating' your words.
Faxing the doctor is also useful when your child's circumstances are status quo and don't require immediate assistance from the doctor. Doctors often like communication via fax as they don't get tied up on long telephone conversations and they have all the necessary information in writing to review and place in your child's file.
Remember, doctors are also happy to know when your child is doing well and when the recommended treatment is producing positive results. A fax update can simply be good news, perhaps in circumstances when you haven't needed to speak with the doctor in a while and just want to bring them up to par on the situation.

Faxes are meant to efficiently and economically relay your information to the doctor. Time is valuable to all of us. If you respect the physician's time, you are more likely to receive reciprocation. A fax should be neat, short, and to-the-point. It doesn't need to be typed. Although a fax is a quick communication, it's always wise to remember the 'magic words' of please and thank you. Polite communications always work to your advantage.

It's always good policy to keep copies of your written communications with your physician. After you have sent the fax, it's a good idea to make sure it was received in the physician's office. You can call the office, checking to see that it was received. For your records, write down the name (and time) of the person who received the fax and follow through with that individual to make sure the doctor receives it. Keep a copy for your file, and you will have a 'journal' of your written communications with the doctor. You may want to also keep a copy for your general practitioner or pediatrician as well.

DYNA has organized a standardized format for physician communication faxes for your convenience. Below is sample wording for you to review. Please feel free to print the attached fax form to utilize as your own fax document.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT FAX FORM.

For Urgent situations always CALL the doctor's office!

Sample wording of DYNA Suggested FAX Format is below:

FAX TO:	Dr. Smith (123) 345-4567 (Fax Number) (123) 345-4444 (Office Number)
DATE:	January xx, xxxx
FROM:	Your Name Your Telephone Number, Fax #, E-mail address, cell phone #, etc.
SUBJECT:	Patient's Name Patient's Date of Birth Patient's Diagnosed Condition "QUESTION", "UPDATE" (Choose applicable word)
COURSE OF ACTION:	"Please Call Me" or "Read at your convenience" (as applicable)
COMMENTS:

Greeting,

The comments should, as concisely as possible, summarize your question or your update to the doctor.

If you have a question for the doctor: In one sentence - state your question first. Provide any background information which may help the doctor answer your question without having to consult the patient's file. For example: provide the medications and dosages the patient is taking. You may wish to provide a quick summary of the last appointment/conversation/letter/fax you had with the doctor and what actions the doctor suggested. Put yourself in the doctor's position: what information would you need to answer the question as quickly as possible. If you can, provide that information - you are more likely to get the doctor's attention and a timely response if you make it easy to do so. Ask the doctor (or a qualified assistant) to respond to your fax. Provide information regarding how and when you are available.

If you are updating the doctor: Provide pertinent background information. The doctor sees many patients - make it easy to remember the patient. Give a brief summary of the situation and then provide the updated information. The understanding with an update is that the doctor does not need to respond to the update, unless he feels it is necessary or you ask for it.

Always say: Thank you.

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