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Patient Communication
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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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Shared Decision Making
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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Delivering Bad News
Helpful acronyms to structure a discussion with a patient and family member
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Error Disclosure
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 Ramya Ramaswami, MBBS, MRCP(UK), MPH (NEJM Fellow); Ole-Petter Hamnvik, MBBCh, BAO, MMSC (NEJM Education Editor); Molly Elmer-DeWitt, MD; Shmuel Margolin, MD and Leigh Simmons, MD. The content was reviewed by Rachel Taliercio, DO.
Last udpated: Dec. 2016
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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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Expert Consult
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