Effective Communication in Healthcare Settings
Communication is the lifeblood of many professions, including healthcare. Most of what you do on a daily basis involves interacting with patients and other professionals. As a result, enhancing your communication skills may help you achieve better outcomes.
Below, explore methods for effective communication in healthcare and learn more about why these skills are so crucial.
Communication in Patient Care
Communicating with patients is about more than holding a conversation with them. To communicate effectively with those you treat, you need to use specific techniques.
Some common communication skills in healthcare physicians should practice include:
Promoting Health Literacy
Patients may have varying levels of health literacy or knowledge about conditions and treatments. However, brief appointments make it difficult for a physician to deduce a patient’s level of understanding.
With that in mind, it’s crucial to present information clearly and concisely, using simple phrasing and short sentences. Try to avoid medical jargon unless you can provide a clear definition.
For individuals speaking English as a second language, use an interpreter and translated documents.
Building a Genuine Connection
Throughout your schooling, you’ve likely heard a lot about “building rapport” with your patients. But putting that into practice is easier said than done.
Active listening, which includes minimizing distractions and responding thoughtfully, is a crucial part of connecting with them. Other ways to enhance the patient-provider relationship include:
- Establishing an appointment agenda
- Asking open-ended questions
- Considering a person’s goals and lifestyle when developing a care plan
- Soliciting feedback from patients regularly
- Using motivational interviewing techniques to encourage sharing
With these tips, you can create a supportive environment where an individual feels comfortable sharing.
Reviewing Information
To ensure patients understand their diagnosis or care plan, physicians should conduct a review. One of the most common strategies for this is the “teach-back” method.
With this model, you will ask the person to reiterate their next steps and ask if they need clarification. By doing so, you can check their understanding of the treatment plan.
Another option is to send home pamphlets or instructions with the patient. That way, if they have another question or want to review the information later, they have a reference.
Effective Communication Between Healthcare Professionals
While the relationship between providers and patients is vital, interactions with colleagues also matter. To improve communication between providers and other healthcare professionals, consider:
- Encouraging others: Ask colleagues for their opinions and promote the sharing of ideas. It’s also essential to acknowledge your own limitations and appreciate the talents of others.
- Using straightforward language: While other health professionals might be more familiar with medical jargon, it’s still best to avoid it when possible. Keep written messages brief and easy to skim.
- Promoting collaboration: Building relationships with colleagues makes it easier to work together effectively. Mutual respect, cooperation, and open communication allow the group to make informed care decisions.
Plus, with slight adjustments, many of the same suggestions for patient communication can be applied to coworkers.
Why Is Communication Important in Healthcare Settings?
Put simply, communication has a direct impact on both patient outcomes and employee satisfaction. Several benefits of these positive interactions include:
- Increasing diagnosis accuracy
- Improving patient satisfaction
- Enhancing treatment adherence rates
- Strengthening operational efficiency and care coordination
- Increasing an individual’s risk perception
- Reinforcing positive behaviors
- Empowering individuals to take charge of their health
Practitioners may also experience improved efficiency and job satisfaction by using these communication strategies in healthcare settings.
If you’re ready to brush up on your interpersonal skills, continuing medical education (CME) can help. Whether you want to learn more about specific conditions or general communication skills, there’s plenty to explore with in-person and virtual seminars.
