Tips for Maintaining Good Patient Relationships|eMedEvents

 An important aspect of the overall healthcare experience is the interaction between patients and medical professionals. Like every relationship, its success depends on the cooperation of both parties. When a patient is actively involved in their own healthcare, this can not only promote positive interactions with their physicians but improve the efficacy of their treatment, too. As a physician, you can form and construct more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans when you have your patients’ trust.

Here are 13 techniques to help promote a positive rapport between you and your patients.

1. Get to know your patients and their proclivities.

First and foremost, no patient enjoys being hurried through their appointments, and doing this deprives you of a vital opportunity to get to know them. When your goal is to make your patient feel at ease around you, that involves treating them as an individual person—not a walking medical condition. When asking questions, try to create a conversational atmosphere, not that of a Q&A session, where your patient feels their own input will be welcome; this will encourage them to be open with you. Remain understanding and aware of your patients’ feelings; depending on the reason for their appointment, they may be confused or scared. Kind reassurance is the key to building and sustaining positive relationships with your patients. Finally, introductions are important; always take the time for them and work to remember your patients’ names.

2. Make preparations for each appointment.

The first step should always be to review your patients’ charts before they walk into your office. While patients do not want to be rushed through appointments, they also do not want to feel as though their time is being wasted, which can absolutely happen if you ask for information that they have already given you. When your patient has arrived, a good starting point can be to inquire about the occasion of their visit. Remember to be conversational, not interrogative, so that your patients feel their concerns are being heard and considered.

3. Pay attention.

Depending on the individual, your patients may often need something as relatively simple as someone willing to listen to their worries concerning their health. While they may not be medical professionals themselves, the importance of taking their concerns into account cannot be understated. Furthermore, this can provide you with the opportunity to initiate a dialogue about treatment options, long-term health plans, or the need for follow-up consultations with specialists. As a physician, you have a busy schedule and rarely have time to speak as in-depth as you may like with your patients; with what little time you have with them, your patients will appreciate you merely listening and offering advice.

4. Remember their individual circumstances.

The more you converse with your patients, the better you will become at anticipating their medical needs without them having to ask. This ties heavily into the good listening practices mentioned above. For example, if your patient mentions a friend or family member getting the flu, you can suggest a vaccination to them when flu season comes around. Your patients will appreciate your concern for their health—and the fact that you remembered what they said.

5. Tell the truth.

Honesty is incredibly important when it comes to interacting with your patients. It will never be in anyone’s best interests to deceive them when it comes to their health. You may think encouraging hope will benefit them in the long run, perhaps by implying that their chances of recovery are better than they are, but this will never be the case. Lying will damage your relationship with them and will actively prevent them from making informed decisions regarding their health. Even if the truth is painful, it is your responsibility as their physician to be honest and open about their recovery, treatment, and necessary lifestyle changes.