Clinician Coaching Tip o' the Month - October 2023

“Patient-provider communication is at the forefront of the healthcare experience. Good communication has far-reaching impacts ranging from poor patient satisfaction to a misunderstanding of treatments and low patient engagement.” This statement comes from a recent article on patient engagement and health quality (September 05, 2023 ).

I was drawn to a specific statement in the article. It recommended viewing the patient as a part of the healthcare team. I feel like I have heard this concept before but can’t recall where or when exactly. I am a strong proponent of collaborative decision making with our patients in order to achieve a treatment plan that’s acceptable and comfortable for both clinician and patient. 

However, I must admit that I don’t consciously think of the patient as part of the healthcare team! Seeing patients in this light elevates shared decision making to a new level. Inherent in this approach is mutual respect, empathy, kindness, and learning. It also encompasses linguistic and cultural competency and, therefore , is most likely to result in a therapeutic and  trusting clinician-patient relationship. 

I’m reminded of a specific clinical situation recently where the patient sustained multiple musculoskeletal injuries at work during a physical altercation. She had not been improving and sought out our clinic for a transfer of care. She was frustrated with her initial clinician whom she said “did not listen to me”. She continued to be symptomatic. She was obviously not part of the care team. 

What became clear at our initial visit was that she was not comfortable with medications to manage her symptoms and also was reluctant to pursue PT. She wanted to take what she described as an “holistic” approach. We then began to discuss treatment options such as acupuncture and massage therapy, both of which were appropriate therapeutic choices. At that moment, she became part of the care team! Both of us were comfortable with the new treatment plan and the visit ended on a very good note with a highly engaged patient.

Evidence supports better clinical outcomes because of increased mutual respect, information sharing, and improved compliance. Moreover, it can help us to overcome our own internal biases, providing a more satisfying, rejuvenating experience for us and our patients.