Patient Interaction Patient Interaction and and

What You Should DoWhat You Should Do

Created by Created by

David LinDavid Lin

David LinDavid Lin Patient InteractionPatient Interaction 22

OverviewOverview

DressDress

InteractionInteraction

LanguageLanguage

Body LanguageBody Language

David LinDavid Lin Patient InteractionPatient Interaction 33

Dress and Appearance codeDress and Appearance code One of the most important things to do when talking to your One of the most important things to do when talking to your

patient, or in any job, is to dress professionally. This means a patient, or in any job, is to dress professionally. This means a suit, or at least a shirt with tie and a doctor’s coat. Your hair suit, or at least a shirt with tie and a doctor’s coat. Your hair should be groomed and you should be clean. Otherwise, the should be groomed and you should be clean. Otherwise, the patient may believe that you are not competent. First patient may believe that you are not competent. First impressions are always important. impressions are always important.

Which would you Prefer?

David Lin Patient Interaction 4

InteractionInteraction• Always welcome your patient with a greeting Always welcome your patient with a greeting

and ask how they are doing. This builds a and ask how they are doing. This builds a relationship that you can relate to and provide relationship that you can relate to and provide a better interaction with your patient. Your a better interaction with your patient. Your patient will then be more forthcoming and patient will then be more forthcoming and honest with you. You both will benefit from the honest with you. You both will benefit from the communication which will allow your job to be communication which will allow your job to be a bit easier.a bit easier.

• Speak clearly. Nothing makes more Speak clearly. Nothing makes more of aof a poor impression that someone poor impression that someone who mumbles or speaks into his orwho mumbles or speaks into his orher her chest. chest.

David LinDavid Lin Patient InteractionPatient Interaction 55

LanguageLanguage

• Use clear and easy to understand. If you speak in technical complicated terms, you will only receive blanks stares. Clarify anything that might be confusing for the patient. Any technical terms should be broken down to simple examples. Gingivitis should be explained as infection in your gums. An ectopic pregnancy should be explained as the egg implanting in the wrong location. Pictures and diagrams can also help to clarify any questions your patient may have. Most importantly, you should be able to speak the patients language fluently. Without being able to convey the information properly, your job becomes increases in magnitudes of

difficulty.

David Lin 6Patient Interaction

Body LanguageBody Language Proper body language is also one of the most Proper body language is also one of the most

important things to have. Your body language important things to have. Your body language conveys is your unconscious mind at work. Be conveys is your unconscious mind at work. Be careful of any shakes, unconscious taping, or careful of any shakes, unconscious taping, or even excessive blinking. Thiseven excessive blinking. Thiscan give the impression that you arecan give the impression that you arenot paying attention, or even bored.not paying attention, or even bored.

Something that no patient should Something that no patient should believe. Once you are aware of any believe. Once you are aware of any negative body language actions negative body language actions that you have, you will be able to that you have, you will be able to prevent them from happening.prevent them from happening.

David LinDavid Lin Patient InteractionPatient Interaction 77

By understanding the aspects of By understanding the aspects of talking with a patient, the dress, the talking with a patient, the dress, the interaction, the language, and the interaction, the language, and the body language, you will be able to body language, you will be able to have a much easier time talking with have a much easier time talking with and communicating, thereby making and communicating, thereby making your job easier and quicker with less your job easier and quicker with less mistakes.mistakes.

David Lin Patient Interaction 8

The End