Question

Lewis Jordan, RMA, is working with a student in the Pearson Physicians Group externship program. The student has been asked by the physician to write a letter to refer a patient to another physician for a second opinion. The student writes the letter and asks Lewis to review it. Following is the letter written by the extern:

Dear Dr. Johnson

I am referring a patient to your office for further evaluation. I have been seeing this patient for several years now for right metatarsal injury. It is in my opinion that this patient should seek additional information on having the right metatarsal removed. This patient has been in my office on several occasions unable to walk with much swelling.

1. According to the standard practices of written communication, is this letter okay? If not, explain why.
2. In what voice is this letter written?
3. If you were Lewis and you needed to rewrite the letter, what would you change about the letter? Why?

Answer 1

This is a formal professional letter which should focus on passive voice rather than active voice. Moreover this is the standard to write a formal nonauthoritative letter. So this letter needs certain correction in order to show professionalism being in a highly dignified and respectable position and vice versa.

The letter can be rewritten in the following way

Dear Dr. Jordan

This is for your kind referral that this patient is a known case of right metatarsal injury and under my treatment for several years .The patient is unable to walk due to swelling indicates the need of right metatarsal removal.So hereby requesting you to evaluate the patient and provide the necessary information to proceed further.

Thanks and regards

Dr. Lewis Jordan, RMA