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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:
- Geriatric Assessment and Transition of Care (Geriatrics)
- Advance Care Planning and Palliative Care (Geriatrics)
- Chronic Pain (Palliative Care — coming soon)
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
Improving Patient Outcomes in the Dual Crises of Climate Change and COVID-19
The pandemic has revealed the unambiguous impact of health disparities on morbidity and mortality from Covid-19 in disadvantaged populations. Patients with chronic health conditions and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities have...
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Discussion
Residency Matchmaking: Preparing Your Rank List
Ranking residency programs is an important conclusion to the residency application process, particularly this year with all of the challenges presented by COVID-19. The virtual interview season will help you identify programs that fit your goals, interests, and...
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Discussion
@NEJMres360 Journal Club Hosted by Mount Sinai Morningside – West, Internal Medicine Residency Program on Bupropion and Naltrexone in Methamphetamine Use Disorder
We have invited the residents and faculty from the Mount Sinai Morningside – West, Internal Medicine Residency Program to engage in a journal club discussion about the NEJM article, "Bupropion and Naltrexone in Methamphetamine Use Disorder.” The authors will be...
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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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