The cornerstone of medical practice remains the provider–patient relationship. When providers forget this (or don’t have time to focus on it), the result is bad for everyone, with huge implications for our overall health-care system.
But how many times have you, as a health-care provider, been frustrated by patients or families who seemingly “just don’t get it”? Despite your explanations that for example, additional tests or treatments are not beneficial, they still ask for more. It’s as if you are talking past one another, frustrating for both you and your patient alike. Effective communication is critical to avoiding this trap.
As a palliative medicine provider, I sometimes worry that the rise of palliative medicine as a specialty has an unintended consequence: that of further detaching providers from their patients because providers feel discussions about overall treatment goals now fall within the purview of yet another specialist. And I fear that we are potentially discouraging providers from having important conversations with their patients. The goal of this blog is to help change that.
Drawing on patient vignettes* and my long experience as first a reconstructive plastic surgeon and then a palliative medicine specialist, I will describe simple and effective tips to help you as a health-care provider enhance your communication skills. Effective communication is the foundation of your work, whatever the stage of your career and whether you are a doctor, nurse, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, or any other provider who works with patients.
Improved communication translates into improved health outcomes, and my bias is that it also leads to improved career satisfaction for providers. Sharpening your communication skills requires an open mind and an admission that things can be done differently. I hope you’ll stay with me—old dogs sure can learn new tricks!