How Medical Practitioners Can Improve Patient Communication and Care

Arguably one of the most important relationships you will have outside of those of the heart is the association you will develop with your medical practitioner or GP. It is vital that you get to know your GP well enough to discuss all forms of medical conditions from general aches and pains to more important afflictions like high blood pressure, drug or alcohol addiction or mental health concerns. These are important factors concerning your general medical and mental well-being, and good communication can make all the difference between being healthy or suffering from a curable condition that you are too embarrassed to discuss with them.

Inversely, you would prefer your doctor to be kind, approachable and able to genuinely listen to you. You must be able to engage with them, feel supported and trust their judgement while receiving competent advice and honest diagnosis of addressed conditions. Apart from remaining as fit and healthy as you can be and keeping up to date with tests and inoculations, it is important that you maintain a relationship with your general practitioner by consulting with them at least twice a year, outside of other medical issues that might arise in between these appointments.

 Your General Practitioner Might be One in a Million

 

If you have found a medical practitioner that has all of these attributes and more, it is advisable to hold onto them. Doctors and other medical professionals have studied for many years, endured internships and undertaken to commit to the Hippocratic Oath to aid and assist patients. One of the fundamental promises within the oath is (in part) and I quote: “The health of my patient will always be my first consideration.”

This was undeniably demonstrated through the COVID-19 pandemic where millions of doctors, nurses, primary and secondary carers, first responders and other emergency services worked tirelessly – sometimes for days on end – to save the lives of many people globally. However, even though many doctors religiously uphold the oath, this is not always the case. If you feel dismissed, judged, misinformed or even patronised while addressing your health and well-being with your general practitioner, perhaps it is time to investigate finding a new one.

In this article, the caring, qualified medical professionals at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics discuss how important communication and pleasant bedside manners are in their relationships with their patients and how it can directly benefit you and the health of your family.

8 Ways General Practitioners Can Improve Their Relationships with Patients

 

Pleasant bedside manners are important in any medical or dental practice, but it is not all that you would expect from your GP or dentist. At Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics, our expert teams are trained in these aspects of medical care. However, you would expect more from a medical practitioner than a friendly smile. Here are eight examples:

• Making Use of Technology: We believe that focusing on patient communication and care does not stop once they leave the building. We use modern technology to ensure superior testing procedures, follow up promptly with the results and engage with patients if further treatment is necessary. Additionally, we have introduced one-on-one virtual consultations to remain in contact with patients with mobility issues, or for the convenience of patients suffering from chronic illnesses to stay in touch or renew ongoing chronic medication, for example.
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• We are Attentive and Use Active Listening Techniques: Our medical practitioners do not consult with you and simply think of the next question to ask. We consider your thoughts and opinions and actively listen to your concerns, offering you the opportunity to be heard and, sometimes, this assists in you relaxing, decreasing your anxiety and allowing the development of trust to have meaningful discussions about your treatment.
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• We ask Meaningful Questions: Although listening is important to develop rapport and trust, we do ask open questions which encourage conversation and assist us with prognosis procedures. Asking meaningful questions assists us in diagnosing what might be wrong with you or performing more tests to ensure that we may actually identify the problem.
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• We are Empathetic and Humble: Some medical practitioners have been in their positions for a long time and become desensitised to the needs and anxieties of their patients, leaving them feeling more confused, uninformed and uneasy than when they arrived. We ensure that our medical professionals are sensitive to your feelings and emotions surrounding your condition and adapt accordingly.
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• We Notarise Our Appointments: You will notice from your first consultation with any one of our medical practitioners that we notarise what you are explaining right from the beginning, summarising what you are saying all the way through. Additionally, we will ask you if we have correctly understood what you have said. This helps us with prognosis, diagnosis and in building a professional relationship with you. This also assists in having an accurate, documented record of your overall medical health for future reference.
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• We Involve Family, Friends, Partners and Spouses: If your prognosis is more serious, you may begin feeling overwhelmed. Whether it is for a chronic illness like diabetes or hypertension or conditions like heart disease or cancer. Patients in more complex medical situations are encouraged and welcome to involve their loved ones. Having someone who cares for you by your side through the process may allow you to feel more relaxed. It is also easier to discuss and explore various options going forward and they might be able to assist in reflecting on the issues at hand.
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• We Adopt a Shared Decision-Making Process: We will always share our prognosis, test results and diagnosis with you. You will always be involved in future treatment decisions, and you will always have the final say in the care that you will receive post-diagnosis. From common simple cuts and bruises, and colds and flu to mental illness concerns and more life-threatening conditions, our doctors and staff will consult with you before prescribing final medications or treatment.
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• We are Aware of Bias: Our professional staff compliment will always care for and communicate with you regardless of your medical condition. You will never feel judged or uncomfortable with any of our medical professionals and we encourage you to share any deeply personal or potentially embarrassing afflictions that may be pertinent to your care.

Why Choose Intercare for You and Your Family’s Medical Care?

Searching for just the right medical practitioner must also include one that is approachable, easy to talk to and friendly, listens to your concerns and offers informed advice. It should be someone who is professional, makes you feel comfortable and has an excellent bedside manner. Additionally, they should make use of the latest technology for testing and offer online services for when you are bedridden.

Conveniently located in most cities and their adjacent suburbs, our teams of professional medical practitioners at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics await your call. We offer treatment for most medical conditions, and we have your and your family’s best interests at heart. Contact us, our compassionate staff and crew are always willing to assist. Intercare – because we care!

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