Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:The Culture of Health Care
Unit:Health Care Processes and Decision Making
Lecture:Making a diagnosis
Choosing therapy
Communicating the plan
The impact of EHRs and technology on clinical decision-making
Slide content:Communicating with Patient Patient educationwhat s wrong Instructionswhat to do Reassurancewhat will happen Motivation, hope Acknowledgment, acceptance Ill be there for you 7
Slide notes:First on the agenda is communicating with the patient and potentially with the patients family or significant caregivers. Patient education is necessary to explain whats wrong, how it came about, what can be done, and if applicable, ways to prevent recurrence in the future. Patients need specific instructions about what to do and what not to do, and these instructions must be put in a language and format that the patient can use effectively. Often patients need reassurance about what will happen, motivation to become more engaged in their care, or a sense of hope when the prognosis is grave. Whatever the problem, whatever the prognosis, patients may need acknowledgment, acceptance, and a clear understanding that the clinician will be there for them. Communicating the plan to the patient may involve any or all of these goals. 7