Patient Communication Essay

A Failure to Communicate in the Physician—Patient Relationship Communication has many facets encompassing more than just the spoken word. Communication can be likened to an onion; it has multiple layers that when pulled back show the complexity of its makeup. Communication is layered by our words and how we use them; our tone of voice; non-verbal cues, gestures and facial expressions. Any one layer by itself would be hard for the listener to interpret the meaning, but together they complete and add depth of meaning to our communication. It is equally important to understand that the way we communicate is dependent on our audience, just as how we communicate affects their response and the result of the interaction. I believe that there

This is a gradual process and with each birthday the occurrences of forgetfulness increase. For some, due to physiologic changes and genetics it can be a quicker progression. During the aging process it is the slowing of blood circulation throughout our brain that exacerbates and speeds up the processes of aging on the brain. These effects on the cognitive processes make it difficult for the elderly patient to verbalize their health problems and make it difficult for them to understand medical information given by their physician and other healthcare providers (Robinson, White, Houchins, 2006)2006). This lack of clarity can render a simple visit to their doctor ineffective and can lead to “negative outcomes in their care.” This negative impact cognition plays in communication becomes more apparent with the elderly as they tend to have multiple health concerns and have to deal with an influx of information and multiple prescription regimes. These multiple regimes can have a significant negative impact on the patient if not taken appropriately due to adverse drug interactions (Williams, Haskard, & DiMatteo,

Through effective communication they can “achieve a connection with older patients” (Robinson et al, 2006). Robinson further suggests that this connection can allow the healthcare provider to ensure that interactions are positive and effect better outcomes. To this end he has set forth some communication tips for effective communication for healthcare providers.

1. Allow extra time for older patients by scheduling them early in the day due to the complexity of their care and to the tendency for older patients to tire more