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
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 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
    healthcare cost crisis
    What If the Health Care Cost Crisis Solves Itself?
    May 11, 2013
    Do You Need Life Insurance? What Does It Cover?
    December 23, 2022
    HIE metal plans
    The Four “Metal Plans” of Health Insurance Exchanges
    May 28, 2013
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Listening: The Most Vital Skill A Caregiver Can Have
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 > Health Reform > Listening: The Most Vital Skill A Caregiver Can Have
Health ReformHospital Administration

Listening: The Most Vital Skill A Caregiver Can Have

Dr.FredSouthwick
Dr.FredSouthwick
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

As healthcare professionals, it’s easy for physicians and other caregivers to adopt a “Father Knows Best” attitude with patients.  We’ve invested years of schooling and practice in our profession, and our knowledge is extensive.  However, many of us forget that our patients have been living with their health problems for years, and they know what has worked and what has not worked in the past. When it comes to their bodies, our patients should be regarded as experts as well.

As healthcare professionals, it’s easy for physicians and other caregivers to adopt a “Father Knows Best” attitude with patients.  We’ve invested years of schooling and practice in our profession, and our knowledge is extensive.  However, many of us forget that our patients have been living with their health problems for years, and they know what has worked and what has not worked in the past. When it comes to their bodies, our patients should be regarded as experts as well.

In order to benefit from our patients’ knowledge, it is essential that we listen as much as we speak.  Healthcare includes much more than diagnoses and procedures – it also involves the personalities, beliefs, and circumstances of each person we see. 

What Isn’t Being Said

More Read

healthcare delivery
America Has a Healthcare Paradox
Tips To Keep Patients And Staff Safe During COVID-19
Strong success: Massachusetts Health Reform at 5 Years
Improving Endocrinology Revenue Recovery is Crucial
What Will You Pay for Insurance Under ObamaCare?

Too often, caregivers don’t take into account the educational levels of their patients.  How we approach a high school graduate should vary significantly from how we approach a college graduate.  Treating each group differently isn’t passing judgment upon their abilities.  Instead, it’s ensuring that we’re discussing their issues from the same perspective and with a similar understanding. 

A second aspect we frequently overlook is the cultural or religious background of the patient and his family.  These differences can result in unexpected misconceptions with regards to treatment options.  For example, many African-Americans don’t trust our healthcare system because of widely publicized past abuses.  Too often, they fear that caregivers are experimenting on them.  Other ethnic groups have low pain thresholds and are anxious when they arrive for treatment.  Still others have stoic attitudes and refuse to acknowledge their pain.  Knowing that these differences exist means we can’t treat each patient identically.  We need to stay aware of these differences and tailor our approach accordingly.

How to Listen to Patients for Their Benefit

One of the best ways to encourage communication is to consider the patient and her family as part of your care team.  Include them on work rounds whenever possible, and present all issues and concerns in their presence.  Be friendly and open, and always call them by their names.  On each occasion, make a point to introduce yourself and remind them of your role on the healthcare team.  This prevents patients from feeling like they’re hearing only part of the story, and they’ll be more likely to ask questions when something isn’t clear.

Always solicit their input when you’re recommending a test or therapy whose benefit is not clear-cut.  By explaining both the benefits and potential complications of the procedure, you can allow the patient and her family to make more informed decisions.  The choices they make can dramatically impact their lives, and it’s up to us to respect the power that information can give them.

How to Listen to Your Staff for Your Patients’ Benefit

Seamless, open communication between specialists is critical to ensure that care plans are coordinated.  This is particularly important in tertiary-care hospitals that treat patients with complex illnesses.  For example, I recently cared for a young woman who was suffering severe blood loss from her gastrointestinal tract.  She came to the hospital after passing over 4 units of blood – nearly two-thirds of her total blood volume.  The identification of the site of bleeding required the input of a gastroenterologist, radiologists, and a colonic surgeon.

As the internist in charge of her hospitalization, I repeatedly paged each of these groups to encourage them to share their opinions with each other in order to better coordinate her care.  Initially, they balked, but after I encouraged them to focus on the needs of this very ill patient, all three groups started talking.  Thanks to this team approach, we were able to identify and surgically repair the leaking vessel; she was cured.  Alone, none of us could have achieved this, but together, we were able to resolve her problem by listening to one another.

How to Maintain a Relationship After

It’s all too common for patients who are discharged from our hospitals to become “lost to follow-up.”  Ideally, each clinic should have a coordinator who calls each patient to assure that the patient understands his instructions and has secured the recommended appointments for ongoing management of his illness.  Many patients require appointments with different specialists, and this can be confusing. 

To guard against the unexpected, I always give my patients my card and my cell number.  I ask them to call if they have any problems or concerns, and approximately 10% of my patients do call.  In every case, their concerns have been important.  One time, a young woman I treated was admitted with jaundice; her yellow eyes were caused by a gallstone blocking her bile duct, while caused a build-up of bilirubin in her blood.  Her stone passed in the hospital, but she still had a gallbladder full of stones.  In order to prevent a recurrence, she needed a gallbladder resection.  When she called to schedule her surgery, the secretary refused to set an appointment because the patient’s insurance was insufficient.  The patient called me, and I quickly intervened to prevent her from going through another bout of jaundice.

Physicians and other caregivers should understand that our patients often will have difficulty navigating our complex, and rarely patient-friendly, system.  Each of us needs to be willing to assist them in their time of need by lending them an ear to listen, and a number to reach us after.  Our obligation to our patients doesn’t end when they walk out our door, and nor should our relationship. 

 Dr. Fred Southwick is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida. He is the Project Manager of New Quality and Safety Initiatives for UF & Shands Health System and is the author of the upcoming book Critically Ill: A 5 Point Plan to Cure Healthcare Delivery. 

TAGGED:Critically IllFrederick Southwicklisteningpatient care
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

technology in medical research
The Tools Helping Medical Researchers See the Full Picture
News Technology
August 3, 2025
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025

You Might also Like

A Clearer Way to Think about Medicare Vouchers

September 8, 2012

You Probably Thought the Public Option Was Dead

June 1, 2011

Physicians Are Your Top Brand Ambassadors!

February 13, 2015

What Orthopedic Patients Want this Holiday Season

December 10, 2015
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?