Jeremy Ohara

Author
Jeremy Ohara

The Write Prescription: Navigating Medical Communication

  Mar 26, 2024

Effective medical communication is necessary for every physician to understand a patient’s health and concerns. 

A serious condition or a minor fever can be treated not just with pills but also by improving the quality of care through an empathetic attitude. 

This can be conveyed by an experienced doctor’s interpersonal skills conversing medicinal information in a casual language. 

Writing a prescription is therefore a balance of diagnosing the symptoms after checking the patient’s health records, and providing guidance and support. 

It is also important to practice active listening skills, be aware of non-verbal cues, and encourage patients to clarify doubts without hesitation.  

In this article, we will inform you of impactful medical communication methods to write prescriptions that solidify a trustworthy bond between a patient and a doctor.

Assessing Patient’s Medical Record

Types of Medical Records

Before writing a medical prescription, the doctor checks the past health records and present symptoms of the patient.

Nowadays, with digital technology, the complete history of a client’s fitness can be checked on Electronic Health Records (EHRs) which is convenient and time-saving. 

A physician also has to deal with a patient’s varied temperaments. It requires a lot of patience for a medical practitioner to stay calm and provide assurance. 

FAST FACT
A survey revealed that while 75% of doctors believed themselves to have communicated satisfactorily with their patients, only 21% of patients thought the same.

Such a staggering difference makes it clear that while assessing health reports, medical practitioners should also be attentive and mindful of patient’s reactions. 

A disease that is minor to a doctor may be stressful to the client because they also have to deal with the medical bills. 

If there are tests required for a health issue, providing alternatives to the patient conveys understanding and empathy. 

Providing Correct Diagnosis

Things to Consider When Communicating About Health

The human body is so complex that a small change in the diagnosis and prescription can alter the condition of the patient. 

Therefore, a correct diagnosis by analyzing the physical symptoms and tests is very important. Most of the time, physicians ask preliminary questions to understand the source of the disease. 

Aligning those with the medical tests takes some time which may include checking for IND partnership tips before prescribing any pills. 

Whatever information to be provided to the client should be conveyed in plain language. 

It is a standard practice that maintains an emotional and psychological balance without overwhelming the patient. 

Your effective communication skills will determine if the client wants to continue your treatment or not. 

But most importantly, it is the level of comfort offered that is memorable to build trust and hope.  

Take a look a the graph below that shows the global prescription drugs market growth since 2018 which is forecasted to reach higher till 2030. 

 Prescription Drugs Market Share from 2018-2030.

Understanding the Cultural Background of the Patient 

 Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers in Healthcare Communication

Diversity and inclusion also extend to the healthcare sector with many diseases connected to a particular region or country. 

However, a doctor should be careful to provide treatment taking into consideration the cultural and ethnic background of a person. 

Integrating demographic characteristics in Simulation-based learning is a valuable aspect of medical training. 

By doing so, the evaluation process becomes specific and improves the patient’s overall satisfaction with the treatment. 

It is an important part of nursing education helping practitioners bridge the gap of communication.  

THINGS TO CONSIDER
Always ask open-ended questions to understand the patient’s perspective, their beliefs about their health, and their understanding of their condition.

Regular Communication and Checkups

Healthcare Communication Technologies

Modern technology has made it possible to communicate with the elderly and less physically able to access healthcare services. 

From EHR to smartwatch monitoring and recording patient fitness, it is easy to diagnose the causes of an illness. 

Other mediums connect good hospitals and doctors to clients through telemedicine and telehealth services. 

They reduce the wait time, provide access to complete medical records online, check changes in the condition, and many other features. 

Digital wallets also offer great convenience to patients along with recommending prescription pills with the physician’s e-signature. 

Conclusion

The medical practice has come a long way in research, training, diagnosis, and medical records. 

Writing prescriptions is now available online and automation is helping improve efficiency and providing telehealth services. 

However, the human touch and communication skills are aspects that convey hope for a patient. 

A good treatment consists of overall evaluation including showing empathy and providing a safe environment to clarify doubts. 

In this way, a doctor is also a therapist and a consultant who offers assurance of better health and consistent progress. 

The skill to communicate effectively is therefore necessary for every medical practitioner to increase patient satisfaction and alleviate anxiety. 




×