In a relationship between medical personnel and patient, communication is key to patient success. In the medical field, communication failures, including failure to act on or report test results, have significant and sometimes lifelong consequences. And these errors are a causative factor in up to 80 percent of medical malpractice cases, according to Temple University. 
Defining Failure to Communicate and Act
Test results are integral to a successful diagnosis and treatment plan. Additionally, some test results are time sensitive and must be met with swift action. However, when medical personnel fail to communicate those results to patients or fail to act on them, problems can arise for the patient. In these instances, the adage “no news is good news” does not apply. Common reasons behind communication failures include:
- The doctor forgets to speak with the patient, either about abnormal or normal results
- Test results are confused after filtering through many departments in a hospital
- Test results are lost because of poor hospital or lab organizational strategies
Failure to Act or Communicate Has Consequences
Patients can become more involved with the communication process by keeping records of tests and their purposes, as well as following up with doctors about their results. The following are examples of what can happen without proper communication and action:
- Delayed treatment
- Delayed diagnosis
- Worsening of a condition
- Need for further testing
