Working in the healthcare industry requires the ability to deliver clear and understandable communication while maintaining compassion and composure. You’re in a position of authority, but you need to remember that the person in front of you is a human being with feelings. Being able to communicate with a patient in an understanding manner elevates you as a healthcare provider, no matter if you’re working for in-home care services in Montgomery County, PA, or in a clinical setting.
The Importance of Being an Effective Communicator in Healthcare
As a caregiver or healthcare provider, you have people’s lives in your hands on a daily basis. It’s all too easy to fall back behind a professional demeanor in order to maintain distance between you and your patient. However, using clinical language and not extending a little compassion towards your patient only serves to reduce their trust and comfort in your ability to provide care.
You don’t have to be a great speaker to be an effective communicator. The following tips will help you become a better provider, put your patients at ease, and improve outcomes because patients trust what you have to say.
Focus on Your Patient’s Concerns and Questions
Your patient relies on you to provide them with support for their healthcare needs. When they express their concerns and questions about a given situation, don’t tune them out. Make sure to listen to the words they’re saying and the context. Patients want to be heard, and they need good answers to put their minds at ease. Good listening skills and detailed responses reduce miscommunication and can prevent an adverse event from happening.
Be Patient With Them
Patience is important with your charges, even though it can be difficult some days. Remember that your job is to provide care, and your mood isn’t going to help the situation. Instead, work on setting aside your current feelings, focus on your patients, and do your best to avoid rushing them or getting snappy. It’s also an important trait to develop when working for home care agencies in Chester County, PA, as it helps deal with the ever-changing roster of patients.
Watch Their Facial Expressions and Body Language
It’s not unusual for people to say one thing, while their body language says another. A patient may try to minimize what they need through their words but display distress in their face or body. Recognizing what they’re not saying verbally lets you approach the topic from different angles and find out what’s bothering the patient.
Minimize Phone Distractions
Smartphones have changed how healthcare professionals keep track of their duties and stay in contact with the office. They also create a distraction from what you’re doing with your patient. Spend as little time as possible playing around on the phone when you’re with a patient, and only do what’s necessary. This prevents irritating the patient and also shows you’re focused on them, not your phone.
Simplify Your Language
Clinical language is a type of language that’s used by healthcare professionals as a type of shorthand. It works for professionals, but not for their patients. Instead of using clinical words and language, introduce the concept to the patient, then break it down further until you feel they understand what they’re dealing with.
Contact Victory Home Care for Your In-Home Care Needs
At Victory Home Care, we make it possible for you to live at home and maintain your independence. Our team of professional caregivers provides compassionate care, puts your needs first, and works hard to help you maintain your familiar routines. Contact us or give us a call today to learn more about our services and why we’re one of the best home care agencies in the Philadelphia suburbs.