The joint deliberation, usually for explanatory or diagnostic purposes, between a patient and practitioner, or two or more practitioners.
The process of a third party assisting a person, group, or organization to use internal and external resources to make decisions and affect change.
In medical or dental practice, the act of requesting advice from another provider, usually a specialist, regarding the diagnosis and/or treatment of a patient. The consultant usually reviews the history, examines the patient, and then provides his written or oral opinion to the requesting practitioner. Referral for consultation should be distinguished from referral for services, because responsibility for patient care is not usually delegated to the consultant. This definition distinguishes a consultation between providers from an encounter or visit between a provider and consumer.
A discussion between two doctors about a case.
A meeting between a doctor and a patient, in which the doctor may examine the patient, discuss his or her condition and prescribe treatment.
A review of a patient’s problem by a second individual, namely a physician or other health care provider (for example, a clinical psychologist), and the rendering of an opinion and advice to the referring physician. The review in most instances involves the independent examination of the patient by the consultant. In a consultation some evidence, such as X-rays, may not need to be repeated if it is made available to the consultant. The consultant’s opinion and advice are not binding on the referring physician. A “second opinion” is a special kind of consultation in which a second surgeon consults on the desirability of elective surgery which has been recommended by the first surgeon. (Elective surgery is surgery which is not stated to be necessary to preserve life or prevent serious disability.)
For a specific patient, diagnosis and proposed treatment by two or more health care workers at one time, one of whom usually is specially trained in the problem confronting the patient.