Don't talk over your patient's head! Patient education is the key to success. How to help patients.
Today Dr. Fisher talks about how important it is for the doctor to communicate at a level where the patient can understand their condition enough to make the correct choices to help themselves. For a person to take control over their own health they must be in a position to take responsibility for themselves and the only way is through being educated. As a doctor you are a teacher and if you fail to educate your patients sufficiently about their condition so they can make the right decisions than you've failed as a practitioner. Speak to your patients at their level of understanding do not try to impress them with your knowledge it will mean nothing if they don't receive the care they need. You can turn patients away from talking over their heads or talking down to them like children...speak at their level. Ask them questions and ask them if they have questions. Insure you have a two way communication and dialogue as if you're playing catch with a ball. Throw the ball/question so who you're playing with can catch it/receive it and stay at a distance where they can reach you back. Good communication is when you both have a clear understanding of the messages each of you are trying to pass over to each other. The bottom line is understanding...without it you have noting.
