In the last post I asked what steps we can take as professionals to decrease medical errors from lack of communication.  Judi pointed out that we can listen to the words while watching the body langauge to come to the conclusion of what is being said.  Another way we can evaluate whether our communication is effective is to have the person repeat the instructions, tell us in their own words what is going to happen, and refrain from using the standby question if the person understands.  Some people may acknowledge understanding as they are afraid to answer in the negative or they truly do not understand what is being said.  The website below identifes key concepts a healthcare provider can use to ensure the communication with patients is effective.  Please go to the website and post at least one key concept, then explain why it is considered a critical step in the communication process.  I look forward to your responses by Thursday.

Reference

Patient-Provider Communication Toolkit. (n.d.). Indian health serivce. Retrieved from http://www.ihs.gov/healthcommunications/index.cfm?module=dsp_hc_toolkit