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Patient Communication
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Beginning January 5, 2021, Rotation Prep will no longer be available as part of an individual or institutional subscription to NEJM or NEJM Journal Watch. Learn More
Introduction
The practice of medicine requires medical professionals to communicate and establish relationships with patients, their relatives, and fellow medical colleagues. This rotation guide contains concepts to help you enhance your communication skills and navigate through difficult conversations.
The following topics are addressed in this rotation guide:
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The Medical Interview and Building Rapport
Tips on the medical interview, techniques for empathic communication, tools for information gathering, and how to obtain a thorough sexual and substance use history
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The definition of shared decision making, with online resources for implementing shared decision making
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Communication Challenges and Health Literacy
Tools to improve communication with patients who have communication difficulties (e.g., language barriers, hearing impairment) and low health literacy
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Helpful acronyms to structure a discussion with a patient and family member
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An overview of the literature on medical error disclosure and coping with making mistakes
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Communicating with Family Members and Caregivers
A guide to improving communication between family members and caregivers
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Communicating with Colleagues and Medical Teams
Tools to improve communication between colleagues and medical teams (e.g., conflict resolution and handoff)
Other topics related to patient communication are covered in the following rotation guides:
Rotation Prep was developed by a collaborative team of experts, educators, fellows, and residents including:
Writers: Ken Wu, MBBS MRCPCH; Ramya Ramaswami, MBBS, MRCP(UK), MPH (NEJM Fellows)
Peer Reviewers: Molly Elmer-DeWitt, MD; Shmuel Margolin, MD and Leigh Simmons, MD
Section Expert: Rachel Taliercio, DO
Senior Editor: Ole-Petter Hamnvik, MBBCh, BAO, MMSC
Last updated: September 2020 by Ken Wu, MBBS MRCPCH
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Rachel Taliercio, DO
Rachel M. Taliercio, DO is a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic. She completed her internal medicine residency and pulmonary/critical care fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. She is currently the Director of Postgraduate Enrichment for the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Communication.
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Ongoing and Upcoming Discussions
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Discussion
@NEJMres360 Journal Club Hosted by the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Internal Medicine Residency Program on Final Report of a Trial of Intensive versus Standard Blood-Pressure Control
We have invited the residents and faculty from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Internal Medicine Residency Program to lead a journal club discussion about the NEJM article, "Final Report of a Trial of Intensive versus Standard...
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Discussion
Transitioning from Trainee to Teacher
With each stage in medical training, new responsibilities and opportunities arise. One key pivot from medical school to residency, or residency/fellowship to practice, is the opportunity to use your expertise to teach. A cognitive switch is required for this...
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Discussion
@NEJMres360 Journal Club with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Neonatal Training Program on Immediate “Kangaroo Mother Care” and Survival of Infants with Low Birth Weight
We have invited the residents and faculty from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Neonatal Training Program to lead a journal club discussion about the NEJM article, "Immediate “Kangaroo Mother Care” and Survival of Infants with Low Birth Weight.” The...
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Featured Articles
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Expert Consult
Delivering Difficult News: Stocking the Toolbox
Communication is key in all relationships. Effective and compassionate communication by physicians and other health care providers has been demonstrated to improve clinical outcomes, treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, and to reduce malpractice claims. For health care providers...
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Expert Consult
The Art of Leading with the Right Balance as a Senior Resident
Although every resident develops his or her own style for each of these roles, the following practical strategies were discussed in a NEJM Resident 360 discussion (How to Lead a Team on the Wards: The Art to Being an Effective Resident).
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Expert Consult
Once You’ve Found the Question: How to Take the Next Steps in Research
For many medical trainees, transitioning from having a question for a research project to taking the next steps is difficult. Finding an appropriate mentor, getting ethics approval, collecting data, performing analyses, and writing up a project for publication are particularly hard when added to the pressures and stresses of medical school or residency.
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