Posted on 3.12.09 by Sharon Lin, DO  

Communication is a huge theme in residency, but it's not easy. I have to negotiate good communication in every interaction, whether it's with nurses, attending physicians, other residents, or patients.  There are so many nuances to working within a hierarchal structure where information flows differently in between and within each traditional rank and individual. I have to pick up on the preferences, expectations, desires, agendas, demands, prejudices, and traditions that are intricately woven into my daily interaction. Sometimes, what is to be conveyed is so subtle to me, yet so obvious to others and vice versa, that I am left feeling overwhelmed.

So what is the recipe for Good Communication?

Step 1) Take one cup trust, two-eye contact, and 1/4 cup of ego-free attitude. Mix all in a bowl until you are present.

Step 2) Mix these ingredients with three cups of empathy, a stick of patience, and two tablespoons of legible handwriting.  Be sure to smooth out any remaining biases.

Step 3) Add a clover of forgiveness and a handful of charm. Put the ingredients into a large vat of language skills and churn. Refrigerate until solid.

Step 4) Scoop out communication for you and your partner and add sprinkles of adequate time on top.

Enjoy!

I want to do well with recipe, maybe as much as I can without expecting perfection.  Physician-patient communication is emphasized very well in many residencies, but I feel more practice is needed within the inpatient and outpatient team model.  Docs can no longer go about the world just telling people what to do; we have to get better working in partnership with others, as a team, to get the best results.