Coordination among docs key to chronic disease care: Experts | Bhubaneswar News

Bhubaneswar: A 50-year-old woman with diabetes and gastric issues, who recently developed kidney-related complications, consulted a nephrologist and gastroenterologist in addition to her endocrinologist. Each doctor followed a separate approach to diagnosis, treatment and medication.But the patient said she was unsure how medicines prescribed by three different specialists would affect her body. “If one specialist misses one aspect, a medicine prescribed by another can create allergies or other problems,” she said.Another concern was undergoing repeated tests whenever she changed hospitals or specialists. She said she did not know whether repeated diagnostic procedures or multiple prescriptions were safe for her health.Managing multiple ailments like hers often means navigating a maze of prescriptions, tests and specialist consultations, leaving patients vulnerable to medication overlaps, adverse drug reactions and treatment errors. Experts say better coordination among healthcare providers, shared medical records and periodic medication audits are crucial to making chronic disease care safer and more effective.Experts said that the absence of integrated medical records, crucial information on medications, allergies and previous treatments increases the risk of medical errors.Gastroenterologist Dr Subrat Kumar Acharya, who is a former president of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said it is the responsibility of the treating physician to know the patient’s medical history, including ongoing therapies and medicines. “First, physicians should know about other systems when dealing with comorbidities. Second, they should access information about the drugs the patient is taking and assess whether they are safe. Third, they can discuss the case with the specialist treating the patient. Fourth, it is their job to explain everything to the patient in simple language, preferably in their own,” he said.Urologist Dr Manas Ranjan Pradhan said treatment becomes easier when a patient visits different departments of the same hospital. “We consult the doctors concerned and prescribe medicines or treatment as required. If the patient comes from another hospital, we go through the prescription and diagnostic reports before starting treatment. Problems arise when the patient is unable to show previous treatment records or explain the contents of earlier prescriptions,” he said.“Patient safety is not limited to hospitals alone. It extends across the entire care journey, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up,” said Dr Debarchan Jena, assistant professor of the endocrinology department, SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Cuttack. “Better coordination among doctors, hospitals and pharmacies is crucial for preventing avoidable harm,” he said.