Next, share your conclusions from the data, and explain how you got to those conclusions. In particular, patients want to know when you have made judgment calls, not because they don't trust you, but because they want to understand what's going on with their care. Third, offer options. Options empower us. With options comes freedom of choice for the patient, and with choice comes a decision to follow through with treatment.
Most options have both pros and cons.
Be sure to discuss relevant pros and cons so the patient can understand the full impact of each option on his or her life. In some cases, this discussion can be the most critical service a physician provides. The patient's choice hinges on this information. Good communication skills can help you build better relationships with patients today and lay the groundwork for quickly uncovering important issues during future visits. Cotter and Hoffman are consultants with Personnel Decisions International in Minneapolis.