By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Doctor/Patient Relationship: Too Much Information, Too Little Communication
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Doctor/Patient Relationship: Too Much Information, Too Little Communication
Public Health

Doctor/Patient Relationship: Too Much Information, Too Little Communication

Steve Wilkins
Last updated: May 6, 2012 8:58 am
Steve Wilkins
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

One of the biggest problems with health care today is that there is way too much information and way too little communication going on between providers and patients.

Here’s a great quote that explains what I mean:

One of the biggest problems with health care today is that there is way too much information and way too little communication going on between providers and patients.

Here’s a great quote that explains what I mean:

More Read

The Happy Advantage – Shawn Achor Video [Amazing]
Effects of Medicaid Expansion Under the ACA: Preliminary Results
Should Step Therapy and Prior Authorization Be Outlawed?
Free Clinics Turning Away Patients
Virtual Photo Walk Helps Invalids Experience Nature

The two words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.

Sydney Harris,  Journalist

I was reminded of this and the quote from “Cool Hand Luke” in an exchange I had with a primary care physician on LinkedIn recently.   In that exchange, which dealt with long-term physician-patient relationships, I hypothesized that intentional non-adherence may be the by-product of situations in which physicians and patients in long-term relationships simply grow to distrust each other.

The good doctor commented as follows:

“In the end, it is the patient’s decision to be compliant or not, yet many physicians continue to care for these patients because someone must. Would the patient comply better with a new doctor? I doubt it. “

I replied to the good doctor’s comment as follows:

“True…the decision to comply or not is up to patients.  But the evidence shows that compliance is not a product simply of bad patient behavior. Non-compliance is an outcome for which both physician and patient have shared responsibility.

I suggest that most people would be a lot more likely to comply if they: 1) understood and agreed with the need for the prescription and 2) believed that the benefits of taking the medication outweighed the risks and concerns. But these issues are seldom brought up by the physician or the patient, due to limited time, provider attitudes and beliefs about patient, and so on.”

Then he dropped the A-bomb – a move intended to silence anyone who would dare challenge physician authority and learnedness:

A professional who deals with this on a daily basis can explain meds, conditions, etc. very quickly and to the satisfaction of the patient.

That’s when it occurred to me…too much information and not enough communication

No doubt most providers today are proficient at quickly giving information to patients (including telling them what to do).  What most providers (and people in general) are not good at is effectively communicating, e.g.,  getting through, with patients (or each other).   Anyone who has ever been married knows the difference between information giving and communicating.

And how would the good doctor know that his patients understood the information he gave them…not to mention their being satisfied with it?   Surely he’s not banking his revenue going forward under P4P on his patient satisfaction surveys alone.

If anything, the weight of evidence suggests that his patients probably do not understand the information he quickly doles out and probably are not particularly  satisfied with it.   Like many of us, his patients probably do not want to confront the good doctor choosing instead to ignore his recommendations or seek advice elsewhere, e.g., non-adherence.

But as with any good relationship, effective spouse-centered (I mean patient-centered) communications is key.   To truly engage the other party, you have to know where they are coming from, what’s important to them and never, never ask them to do more than they are willing and able to do.  I had to say that since my wife proof reads my blog posts…lol).

That’s what I think…what’s your opinion?

 

TAGGED:doctor/patient relationship
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

What Can We Learn From European Hospice Care and Life Insurance Policies?

February 8, 2016
BusinessGlobal HealthcareNewsPublic Health

MedShare – Recycling Medical Supplies for the Good of the World

March 7, 2012
Medical Education

Better Bedside Manners Heal Doctor-Patient Relationships

July 30, 2012
NewsPublic Health

Smokers Die Ten Years Sooner Than Nonsmokers

February 15, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?