Consultation skills Consultation skills Probably The most important skill in medicineProbably The most important skill in medicine

Why are consultation skills important? Why are consultation skills important? What happens when consultation skills are What happens when consultation skills are good good What happens when consultation skills are What happens when consultation skills are bad. bad.

ContentContent

• Definition• Duties of a Doctor with patients• Duties of a Doctor with colleagues• Consultation models-why?• Some techniques

DEFINITIONDEFINITION

THE EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES BETWEEN PEOPLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING COMMON MEANINGS.

Consultation skills Consultation skills The most important skill in medicineThe most important skill in medicine

DUTIES OF A DOCTORDUTIES OF A DOCTOR

• Support patients in caring Support patients in caring for themselves to improve for themselves to improve and maintain their healthand maintain their health

• Work in partnership with Work in partnership with patientspatients

• Listen to patients and Listen to patients and respond to their concerns respond to their concerns and preferences.and preferences.

• Give patients information Give patients information in way they can understandin way they can understand

• Respond to patients Respond to patients questions and keep them questions and keep them informed about how informed about how information is shared information is shared within teams.within teams.

• Support patients to self Support patients to self carecare

• Treat patients politely and Treat patients politely and consideratelyconsiderately

• You must make sure, You must make sure, wherever practical, that wherever practical, that arrangements are made to arrangements are made to meet patient’s language meet patient’s language and communication needs.and communication needs.

• Respect patients rights to Respect patients rights to confidentialityconfidentiality

Communicating with colleaguesCommunicating with colleaguesThe most important skill in medicineThe most important skill in medicine

DUTIES OF A DOCTORDUTIES OF A DOCTOR

• Communicate effectively Communicate effectively with colleagues within and with colleagues within and outside the teamoutside the team

• Make sure your patients Make sure your patients and colleagues understand and colleagues understand your role and your role and responsibilities in the team responsibilities in the team and who is responsible for and who is responsible for each aspect of patient careeach aspect of patient care

• You must treat your You must treat your colleagues fairly and with colleagues fairly and with respectrespect

• When referring a patient When referring a patient you must provide all you must provide all relevant information about relevant information about the patient.the patient.

Consultation skills Consultation skills The most important skill in medicineThe most important skill in medicineCONSULTATION MODELS-Why? CONSULTATION MODELS-Why?

To get the most out of the consultation for the To get the most out of the consultation for the patient foremost and for the doctor. patient foremost and for the doctor.

To adapt your style of consulting to meet the To adapt your style of consulting to meet the needs of the patient needs of the patient

To handle difficult situationsTo handle difficult situations To have “rescue” plans when things go wrongTo have “rescue” plans when things go wrong To use time efficiently in the consultationTo use time efficiently in the consultation To be able to assess and improve the consultationTo be able to assess and improve the consultation

Communication skillsCommunication skillsSome techniquesSome techniques

Developed fluent dialogue with patientDeveloped fluent dialogue with patient Used silence effectively, allowing patient enough Used silence effectively, allowing patient enough

time to express thoughts or feelingstime to express thoughts or feelings Actively encouraged patient through use of Actively encouraged patient through use of

supportive words or commentssupportive words or comments Dialogue with patient was enhanced by effective Dialogue with patient was enhanced by effective

use of non-verbal behaviouruse of non-verbal behaviour Used open, exploratory questions – inviting Used open, exploratory questions – inviting

patient to become actively involvedpatient to become actively involved Adjusted language as appropriate, to suit Adjusted language as appropriate, to suit

particular needs of the situationparticular needs of the situation

Take Home Message

To Be a Good Doctor, we Have

to Be a

GOOD COMUNICATOR