You have received a referring physician report in the mail. What should you do first?

The first step when receiving a referring physician report is to date-stamp the correspondence. This action is essential because it establishes a clear record of when the document was received, which is important for maintaining accurate patient files and ensuring timely follow-up. This timestamp will also assist in tracking any potential delays or the timeline of care regarding the patient.

By dating the report, you are contributing to an organized and efficient workflow within the medical office. It helps ensure that the physician can promptly review relevant information and follow up as necessary. Establishing this record at the outset prevents any confusion or loss regarding when the document was received, which is crucial for effective communication and coordination of patient care. Following this initial step, the next actions would typically involve providing the correspondence to the physician for review or taking additional administrative steps as appropriate.