health education | wellness

Tag: Communication

  • Four Ways to Improve Physician Listening Skills

    Four Ways to Improve Physician Listening Skills

    Being a good listener is cited in numerous patient feedback surveys as one of the main things that people value in a physician. Here are four simple ways to improve physician listening skills:

    Stop, Look, and Really Listen

    If you want to do anything right, you have to pay attention and do it correctly the first time. Otherwise, your efforts may be counterproductive. That’s definitely true with listening, which is not a multitasking type of skill. So when it’s time to talk with a patient, stop everything else. Look them in the eye, and concentrate only on that specific listening task.

    Be Warm and Cordial

    During a busy and stressful day, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that patients aren’t just problems you need to solve but are sensitive people who want to be heard. They are often scared or emotionally raw since they are not feeling well. So use a calming voice. Be warm and cordial. Let them know that you are a friendly face and a helpful ally, not just an experienced physician.

    Engage in Active Listening

    Never forget that unless you ask and then listen, the patient may not reveal the information you want and need most in order to make your own job easier and more successful. When a patient explains something to you, paraphrase and summarize it back to them. For example you might reply “Is this what I hear you saying? You feel exhausted and have a sore throat?” That kind of active listening ensures that there is no miscommunication.

    Use Nonverbal Communication

    Improve Your Bedside Manner

    Be sure to also listen to nonverbal communications from your patients. If a patient appears anxious, for example, that could be the reason for a higher blood pressure reading. But it may be that they are only nervous about being in the doctor’s office, and as soon as they return home their blood pressure may fall. So also try to read between the lines. But don’t guess. If you read something in a patient’s body language then ask more questions to see if your assumptions are correct.

  • Optimizing Your Doctor’s Visit

    Optimizing Your Doctor’s Visit

    Optimizing Your Doctor’s Visit

    If there’s one consistent aspect of nearly everyone’s healthcare regimen, it is the annual checkup. Doctors recommend taking the time at least once a year to stop by the office and read some old magazines while you wait for your twenty minutes with the doc. It isn’t always fun, but it is important to stay in contact with a healthcare professional. So you might as well get the most out of the experience when that time rolls around. In the interest of your health, it is important that you optimize your doctor’s visit so it works for you.

    Getting the Most out of Your Doctor’s Appointment

    The average cost for a fifteen minute doctor’s visit rounds out to around $100 (Fay, 2015). Insurance can help mitigate that expense, but still, it’s essential that you get the most bang for your buck. And since most doctors see dozens of patients a day, the responsibility often falls on you to make sure you’re getting the kind of attention you need.

    The first item on your checklist when preparing for a doctor’s visit is to make sure they take your insurance. This can usually be handled with a quick look at the doctor’s website, which should give an extensive list of providers they have in their network. A phone call to the office can also accomplish this. But make sure to double or triple check at the front desk before you go into your appointment, miscommunications do happen and you don’t want to be overcharged.

    Another good thing to do when going in to see the doctor is to get an idea beforehand about what you want to discuss. Joint pain, sleep issues, a strange rash, this is your chance to talk about what’s ailing you. You’re here already, you might as well talk about some issue, even if it’s minor.

    Building on that, doctor’s visits can also be useful for addressing issues that may appear down the line. Familiarize yourself with your family’s medical history and be ready to talk about ailments you might be at risk for. You can bring old test results and medical records if you wish, but for a casual, non-emergency doctor visit, a flash card with the relevant info on it should suffice. Your doctor can tell you about some lifestyle choices you should consider making to avoid these issues, such as eating less sugar if you could develop diabetes, or exercising safely if you’re at risk of heart disease.

    If you are experiencing symptoms of some illness or another, it’s important to be able to describe them effectively (CFAH.org, 2013).

    Be specific

    Tell your doctor where the problem is, and describe it thoroughly (“shooting pain behind my eyes” is better than “my head hurts”). It’s also important to describe how these symptoms affect your day-to-day life to see how serious the issue may be. Are you discussing a mild annoyance or a debilitating problem that prevents you from functioning? Your doctor needs to know.

    Ask Questions

    As you’re leaving your appointment, make sure you ask any questions you might still have. Check to see if the doctor wants a follow-up appointment, and if you’ve received any prescriptions, make sure you know the best methods of taking your medicine safely. Double check about how to best reach your doctor in case of an emergency. And lastly, thank them for their kind attention.

    A little kindness goes a long way

    Being a doctor is a tough job. They’re often overworked and underpaid. A little kindness goes a long way towards alleviating that burden, and it can help build a trusting relationship between you and your physician. This person’s got your health in their hands. Treat them nicely.

    References

    Fay, B. (2015). Debt.org. Retrieved on 7/14/2015 from http://www.debt.org/medical/doctor-visit-costs/

    Talking About Your Symptoms. (2013). Center for Advancing Health. Retrieved on 7/24/2015 from http://www.cfah.org/prepared-patient/communicate-with-your-doctors/talking-about-your-symptoms

     

  • How to Improve Your Bedside Manner

    How to Improve Your Bedside Manner

    While the majority of patients and their families appreciate the help and healing offered by healthcare providers, many also complain that the healthcare industry has become too impersonal and bureaucratic. They often cite historical references to the olden days when doctors were more personally acquainted with each patient, and report that nowadays they are not given enough one-on-one attention.

    Improve Your Bedside Manner

    Organizations have not only grown bigger, but technology has removed much of the human element in caregiver-to-patient interactions, as healthcare facilities strive to be more productive, efficient, and affordable.

    Steps to Improve Your Beside Manner

    There are steps you can take though, and here are four tips to improve your bedside manner that can make a real difference in how you are perceived by patients.

    1. Professional Can Also Be Friendly

    You need to maintain a professional demeanor, but that does not mean you cannot be warm and friendly. Greet the patient, make sure you pronounce their name correctly, and offer them energetic focus. Resist the urge to see them as a problem or puzzle to be solved before you move along to the next patient, and that extra effort will score lots of positive points.

    2. Nonverbal Communication Matters

    Improve Your Bedside Manner

    Do make eye contact and shake your patient’s hand. Don’t just stare at a chart, clipboard, or computer. Do stand up straight, smile, and try to sit at the same eye level as the person to whom you are talking. Don’t write, read, or look away while they are answering your questions.

    3. Let the Patient Explain the Problem

    Let the patient describe in their own words how they feel, what their symptoms are, how long they have felt that way, and why they came to see you. Oftentimes the patient will provide information or insights that you would otherwise miss, and that can be critically important. The tone they use and the words they choose can also be key indicators of their level of well-being or stress.

    4. Reassure Patients and Family Members

    You don’t have to make promises in order to offer reassurance. Let patients and family know they are in good hands and that you will do everything to help them and try to ensure their comfort. If you don’t verbalize that, they may not feel safe or secure, and a little reassurance can emotionally and psychologically aid in a faster recovery.