Average Primary Physician conducts:
- 25 interviews/day
- 110 interviews/week
- 5,400 interviews/year
- 162,000 interviews over 30 year
career
Benefits of training:
- Improved patient care outcomes
- Greater understanding from patients, families, colleagues
- Improved image of the hospital/clinic/practice
- Minimized patient attrition
- Diminished risk exposure
- Career growth opportunities (public speaking, leadership
positions)
Important Facts About Physicians
International
Medical Graduate (IMG) - physician who has received his/her
medical education outside the
United States and Canada.
- Since 1970, non-IMGs have grown 91.4%; IMGs have
grown 170.2%.
- Patients have a one in four chance of seeing an IMG.
- Greater than 65% of hospital deaths and injuries and
55% of medication errors were due to communication factors
(JCAHO, 2002).
- Quality of patient care is directly dependent on the
ability of physicians to communicate effectively.
- As many as 98,000 people die each year from medical errors
(Institute of Medicine).
What should be addressed in communication training?
- Stress and Intonation patterns – reduce potential
misinterpretation of critical information, e.g. 15 mg vs.
50 mg
- Clear pronunciation – state medical information accurately
e.g. “bleeding” vs. “breathing”
- Idiomatic expressions and slang – reduce communication
barriers, e.g. “He’s out of the woods;” “I’ve
had it.”
- Cultural Awareness – learn cultural values for communication
styles, decision making, hygiene, nutrition, medications,
compliance to a medical plan, family constellations, and
end of life decisions
View
article "Communication Skills Training Programs
for IMGs" (PDF)
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