Components of a consultation

Components of a consultation

Dr K K Aggarwal, National President IMA

IMA is keen to determine optimum rates for professional consultations in different outpatient and inpatient settings. Most professionals are not even aware of the complexities that are a part of a so-called "simple consultation".

IMA has formed a time bound committee, IMA costing department with Dr Vijay Agarwal (9818766000) as its chairman.

IMA has made a preliminary effort in detailing the components of consultation that should ideally be compensated.

Mentioned below is a template and we request you to fill in the amount that you are charging presently and what you should be charging.

How much time do you think is required to fulfill the obligations of a proper consultation?

Activity Actions Required Charges INR Registering a patient First time registration requires capturing demographic details, allergies, data to be preserved for 3 years (MCI) / 7 Years (Income Tax) Consultation Acknowledge patient; introducing yourself,; ensure privacy & confidentiality; hand wash before and after examining; detailed history taking; making a summary of past voluminous records; undressing and examination; planning and counseling for investigations; making provisional diagnosis; writing detailed prescription as per MCI code of ethics; planning and counseling for medications and additional diet, rehab, sexual, mental counseling. Notification Notifiable diseases Communicable diseases Adverse reactions Medicolegal cases Sentinel events Antimicrobial resistance Drugs/Devices/Vaccines/ Herbs/Blood reactions   Certificates Leave, fitness, rest etc. Skilled Maneuvers Examples: Taking Blood Pressure in all the four limbs, apley maneuver etc Skilled Procedure Example: Dressing Removing Foreign Body Gastric Suction Pharyngeal/ Laryngeal Suction Point of Care Investigations Examples: ECG Blood Sugar Observation / Monitoring  if Required Following a Drug Test Fainting attack First Aid Example: Oxygen Injections

(Contributions from Dr Vijay Agarwal, Chairman IMA Costing Department)