Talking with the patient

How to request a consult

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPA
Practice it in VR with Blocky

A good consult request gets the right help faster. A vague one wastes time for both teams and can delay care.

Step by step

  1. Know your question

    Decide exactly what you need from the specialist before you call. For example, "Does this patient need a cardiac catheterization today?" [1]

  2. Introduce yourself

    Give your name, role, team and a callback number. Identify the patient with two identifiers and location. [1]

  3. State urgency

    Say whether you need them now, today or routinely, and why. Emergent requests should be made by phone, not only in the chart. [1]

  4. Give a focused summary

    Share the key history, exam, results and what you have already done. Use a structure such as SBAR to stay brief. [1]

  5. Repeat the question

    End with your specific question again so the consultant knows what to answer. [1]

  6. Close the loop

    Agree on who does what next. Read back any recommendations and document the call. [2]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

20 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals
  3. AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)

Facts and steps follow AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs); AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.