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In British hospital practice the traditional 'firm' secretary has increasingly been replaced by a panoply of personnel, often responsible for supporting multiple clinicians and co-workers; typists, schedulers, support managers, workload co-ordinators and personal assistants all contribute to clinical pathways. Some units outsource some of these functions elsewhere within or outside the organisation, even overseas. The opportunity for miscommunication and administrative chaos is therefore great. A structured letter with the acronym 'CARE' is recommended to combat this risk and improve administrative efficiency.
CARE stands for copies, arrangements, results awaited, enclosures and is conveniently printed at the bottom of each letter
Copies
Patients should...