How to Improve Your Bedside Manner

Good bedside manners don't just make a doctor likable, they make a doctor an effective and compassionate healer. But medical students are mistaken if they think that good bedside manners and communication skills are an automatic part of becoming a doctor. It helps if you are already a people person who is good at listening, but there are many ways that you can improve your bedside manners, and some medical schools even offer courses and training to develop medical professionals' communication skills. Whether you enroll in a class or practice on your own, here are some tips for developing a good rapport and communicating efficiently with patients and other medical professionals.

1. Look Patients in the Eye

Modern doctors, both in emergency medicine and private practice, see a lot of patients. But they don't aways see them clearly. While it's important to take your patient's medical history and accurately record information, it's just as important to understand your patient's needs and concerns. This can be difficult to do while using modern record-keeping software programs and diagnostic tools, so the first step is to listen closely while you take notes. Still, patients won't always use words to explain what is troubling them, but good doctors can find ways to communicate and interpret what their patients are saying. That means looking them in the eye, reading their body language, and asking open-ended questions that help patients express themselves. Some medical schools employ actors to work with student doctors, but if yours doesn't you can practice your eye contact and creative listening skills with friends, family members, and during clinicals.

2. Forget Dr. House

Everyone wants to imagine themselves a hero, and medical dramas like House and ER often portray maverick doctors who defy authority and make drastic, risky medical decisions as brilliant, esteemed, life-saving physicians. But in reality, doctors who don't work well or communicate with others are more likely to make mistakes, misdiagnose, or harm their patients. Modern medical practice is more about team-work than individualism, and it's important that doctors communicate with other doctors, medical technicians, and especially with nurses and RNs. In many hospitals and care facilities, nurses are the backbone of patient care, but doctors who fail to communicate clearly put their patients at risk of malpractice or mismanagement. Medical students must realize that it's almost impossible to know everything and that it's vital to patients' well-being that their medical practitioners work together and consult with other experts.

3. Be Concise

Part of being a good communicator is the ability to present information clearly. There are lots of jokes about doctors and bad handwriting, but the truth is that miscommunication or incoherent information can be dangerous. Doctors must ensure that their patients can understand all the information presented – diagnoses, treatment options, side effects, and prognoses. Learn to ask questions that will clarify whether a patient grasps concepts, terms, and conditions, and work to ensure that the language you use is accessible. Don't forget that clear communication with other medical professionals is paramount to successful treatments, and make sure that the proper information follows your patient throughout their medical experiences. Most hospitals report that mistakes happen most frequently during transitional periods in patient care, so it's vital that your instructions are concise and informative.

4. Use Relevant Technology

While new technology like automated notation systems and billing codes can impede doctor/patient communication, there are other emerging technologies that can be employed to assist physicians and foster good bedside manners. Smart technologies that record and notate exams or conversations in real-time can help doctors focus on their patients instead of a computer screen. Apps and data programs can assist doctors and patients to track and monitor chronic conditions or streamline treatments. But it's also important to be aware of the kinds of information and technology that are available to patients. Some things, like support groups for patients with specific diagnoses, can be helpful but patients can often be overwhelmed, or even terrified, by the amount of information (and misinformation) online. Learn to understand where your patients get their information and work to steer them towards useful, medically sound resources.

5. Take Your Time

Doctors are busy. And with looming doctor shortages in the United States and other countries, medical professionals are only going to get busier. But it's important to remember that while the patient you're consulting with at 10:00 today may not be your most pressing case, for that individual, you and your diagnosis are probably their biggest concern. Take the time to listen to your patient, to consider their issues, and make sure that you, and they, have the right information. Good bedside manners are ultimately, a combination of all the factors we've listed so far. Good listening skills, humility, communication, and expertise all serve to help a physician gather the right information, make informed decisions, and give their patients the best possible care.

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