On the Bleeding Edge: Mastering GI Emergencies and Inpatient GI Consultation (Live and Virtual)| September 2026-14_Gagneja_The art of GI consult

14_Gagneja_The art of GI consult - animated

Pdf Summary

The document, “The Art of the GI Consult,” explains that a consult is not just a recommendation but a trust-based interaction that shapes a clinician’s reputation. When a referring clinician calls GI, they are really asking: can you help, can I reach you, and can we work together? The quality of the response builds long-term trust.<br /><br />It emphasizes consult etiquette using three principles: be affable, available, and able. Affability makes the caller feel welcome; availability means acknowledging early even before a full answer is ready; ability means owning the clinical question and giving a usable plan.<br /><br />Good consults begin before the call by clarifying the exact decision needed, the patient’s current severity, prior workup or treatment, and what data will change management. Requests should be brief, specific, and actionable, naming the patient, problem, urgency, and decision. The document gives examples showing how vague consults can be refined into clear, decision-focused questions.<br /><br />The piece also highlights rapport-building: listen to the primary team, explain your reasoning, offer options when uncertain, and close the loop by stating what you will do and when to reconnect.<br /><br />Reputation depends on small repeated behaviors such as returning calls, documenting clear plans, and updating teams after procedures. Effective hand-offs should answer what happened, what happens next, who owns it, and who needs to know.<br /><br />For discharge planning, the note should clearly explain findings, medications, warning signs, follow-up, and who is responsible for next steps. Vague instructions like “follow up with GI” are inadequate; the patient and team need a specific, actionable plan.<br /><br />Overall, the message is that excellent consults reduce uncertainty, move care forward, and create the trust that brings colleagues back again.

Keywords

GI consult

consult etiquette

trust-based communication

affability

availability

ability

referring clinician

care coordination

discharge planning

clinical handoff