Patient Care Communication

Importance of Communication in Patient Care

Just like many other skills we are developing to become successful healthcare providers, patient care is very important. It refers to the ways we help patients have a positive experience; this may be as simple as greeting a patient nicely when they come through the door or following proper procedures when taking care of them. Patients are seeking high-quality care and attentiveness to their health concerns.

Although every patient has a set of unique needs, there are similarities among those needs. For example, children may want you to hold their hands during a procedure but adults may prefer a reassuring phrase. The need for care and attention is the same but it can be expressed in different ways.

Communicating effectively with patients and families is a cornerstone of providing quality patient care. The manner in which a health care provider communicates information to a patient can be equally as important as the information being explained. Good communication skills put patients at ease, send a positive message, and let them know that we care and want to help. Patients who understand their providers are more likely to accept their health problems, understand their treatment options, modify their behavior and adhere to follow-up instructions.

According to the Institute for Healthcare Communication, “Extensive research has shown that no matter how knowledgeable a provider might be, if he or she is not able to open good communication with the patient, he or she may be of no help.”

As a medical professional, it is important to know when to speak and when to listen; there are a variety of important skills to use when communicating with patients. Active listening means to be mentally and physically engaged with what the other person is saying. Full attention is on the other person, the provider has to listen and watch for verbal and non-verbal clues. Poor listening can even affect the quality of care provided to the