Physician Communication

Abstract

Physician Communication: Connecting with Patients, Peers, and the Public presents the current world of physician communications, from face-to-face and digital communications to public speaking and traditional media. The book explores methods and explains guidelines of exceptional physician communication. Physician–patient communication is, after all, human-to-human communication; establishing a bond and listening are just two of the essential elements in building trust and understanding—the foundations of communication. But today there is much we need to learn when it comes to facilitating the exchange of information, providing psychosocial support, ensuring shared decision-making, translating complex information, resolving controversies with sound science, and the myriad of goals we have as physician communicators with patients, peers, and the public. While most of our communication is with patients, we increasingly find ourselves communicating with family members, caregivers, students, residents, colleagues, patient advocates, researchers, insurance agencies, bosses, board members, the public, and even at times journalists. What we are communicating, where we are communicating, and with whom we are communicating are continually changing and expanding—and with ever more electronic technologies available to us, from electronic medical records and emails to online forums, video conferencing, and other high-tech systems. All of this makes how well we communicate as physicians even more important to our success in today’s healthcare environment.