Ourhealthdeliverysystem dependsforitseffectivenessongoodcommunicationbetweenmedicalstaffandthepatient.Thisaxiom takesonnew meaninginthelightofchallengesbroughtaboutbysocialchangeinthepastcoupleofdecades.Eventhoughdecision-makingmaystillrestinthedoctor...
Ourhealthdeliverysystem dependsforitseffectivenessongoodcommunicationbetweenmedicalstaffandthepatient.Thisaxiom takesonnew meaninginthelightofchallengesbroughtaboutbysocialchangeinthepastcoupleofdecades.Eventhoughdecision-makingmaystillrestinthedoctor'shands,thepatientisnolongerapassiverecipientofmedicalservices.
MassmediaandtheInternetisfloodingsocietywithmedicaladvice,attitudesandvalues,thusproducingwhatmaybetermedthe"informedpatient".Forbetterorworse,thepatientoftodayisbetterinformed.
Buthe/shemayalsobemisguidedbywrongorincompleteinformation.Themedicallytrainedprofessionalmustbethetrustedauthorityonthesematters.Butsuchtrustcanonlybeestablishedinanatmosphereofmutualunderstandingbetweendoctorandpatient.Forthistohappen,medicalstaffatalllevelsneedtoimprovetheircommunicationskills.
Theroleofthedoctorisnotonlytomakethecorrectdiagnosisandtoprescribepropertreatmentbutalsotosupportthepatientinawidercontext.Thedoctormusthelpthepatientunderstandtheimplicationsofthesituationasitmayaffecthislifeandthatofhisfamily.Thiseffortwillreducethepossibilityofmisdiagnosisthatmightotherwisecauseunnecessaryphysicaldiscomfortormentalpain.
Medicalcommunication,leadingtotrustbetweendoctorandpatientwillminimizethe“doctorshopping”phenomenon,thuscontributingtooverallcost-benefitofthemedicalservice.