Communication in Healthcare
The article, “Call My Baby by Her Name,” by Dr. Amy Keir, is used as a platform to promote the idea that effective communication between all medical staff and patients and their family is a critical and essential component of giving healthcare. Patient relationships are essential in the course of healthcare. Keir advocates that treating a patient as a unique individual and identifying the needs of their family allows them to trust their care givers more during their most vulnerable moments. Communication and relationship with patients has an impact on patients’ experience of care, safety, clinical outcomes and reduce medical malpractice risk. Keir states, “I would argue that communication is one of the most important parts of being a physician.” She points out that the demands on hospital staff and complexities of health care tend to distract staff from the presumably intuitive communicative response that their patients and families require. Residents need to be able to deliver difficult information to families in times of emotional distress, and communication simulations are beginning to become a part of their standard medical training. For those facilities that are willing pay, one-three day rather expensive workshops are available that allow trainees to practice learned communication skills through role-play. Keir further recommends that additional in-house training can be gained by performance feedback by others on the job. She is willing to admit she herself was afraid to say, “The wrong thing,” to families, however, she feels that training received and the support from senior staff has helped her gain confidence. Although Dr. Keir’s experience with this topic comes from her experience in the specific field of Neonatal and Pediatric care she makes a very clear case that learning effective communication with patients in all