Patient Care and the Importance of Doctor/Patient Relationships

One of the foundations of clinical care is the doctor-patient relationship. Developing a positive, trusting bond with patients enables you to form more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. It also has a significant impact on patient care and overall patient health outcomes.
A positive experience with their doctor encourages patients to be more active in their healing process. When patients trust their doctors, they experience less anxiety and comprehend medical information more readily. They are also more likely to disclose information relevant to their condition. This allows for better diagnostics and offers the opportunity for a collaborative approach to recovery.
However, trust is just one aspect of the doctor-patient relationship. Many other factors influence the relationship between doctors and their patents, which can impact the quality of patient care.
5 Factors that Influence Doctor-Patient Relationships
1 Communication
Effective communication is the key to any successful doctor-patient relationship. When there is miscommunication between a doctor and their patient, this can have serious negative consequences. These include mismanaging treatment expectations, causing the patient to feel frustrated, and failure to adhere to treatment protocols.
An excellent place to begin when forming doctor-patient relationships is personalizing your communication. Remembering small details about your patients’ lives beyond their illness makes them feel understood.
2. Trust
Patients need to trust doctors with their health, and in some cases, their lives. Doctors need to trust patients to be forthcoming with critical medical information, and to follow medical protocols to facilitate healing. However, trust in a doctor-patient relationship is hard to build and can be damaged easily if patients are not treated with dignity.
3. Respect
When patients are seeking help for a medical condition, they are placed in a vulnerable position. This can often make them feel embarrassed or anxious. Being treated impersonally or being rushed through exams and tests may feel disrespectful. Patients may also ash out when under stress or try to compensate for their feelings of helplessness by self-diagnosing.
The doctor’s response to these situations can have an impact on the relationship with their patients. Dismissing beliefs or emotions shows a lack of respect for your patient and can make them less willing to cooperate and collaborate on health goals.
4. Workload
With the rising cost of medical bills, medical professionals are feeling pressured to receive or visit more patients within a single shift. This increased workload and the time constraints it imposes increases doctor stress levels, causing them to appear less approachable to patients.
5. Time
Workload and time are inextricably linked. The greater a doctor’s workload, the less time they can spend with each patient. Limiting the time spent with patients can lead to rushing through examinations and potentially overlooking crucial medical information or data that could improve patient care and recovery.
4 Ways to Strengthen Doctor-Patient Relationships
1. Be Patient
Patience is an integral part of a successful doctor-patient relationship. When patients feel anxious and stressed, keep calm, and understand, it takes time for a patient to accept the nature of their condition.
2. Be Mindful
Mindfulness is simply being aware of yourself and others. In a medical setting, this can mean being aware of how your body language sends subtle messages to patients about your level of engagement and how much value you place on your doctor-patient relationship. Fidgeting, crossing your legs, or somber facial expressions can make you appear unapproachable.
Use mindfulness techniques to help you focus on your patients and encourage better verbal and non-verbal communication. Mindfulness is also an excellent way to manage work stress. When you are less stressed, you will perform better and improve patient care.
3. Listen Actively
As a doctor, it is vital to listen to your patients. In addition to gaining valuable insights into your patients’ condition, active listening also enables you to infer information they are not offering, which can also impact your patient care plan. Listening without interruption also encourages trust because patients feel you empathize with their situation.
Try active listening techniques like paraphrasing what your patients are saying and repeating it back to them to clarify their point. Label their emotions and validate their concerns by responding with sincerity and empathy.
4. Focus on Quality Interactions
Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the workday, and you may struggle to find the time for extended, in-depth consultations with patients. However, this means that it is even more important to have quality patient interactions.
A quality interaction involves dedicating 100% of the time you have with a patient to their needs. This can be achieved through effective time management, active listening techniques, and giving the patient your undivided attention.
The Wrap UpA strong doctor-patient relationship has positive implications for improving patient care. You can enhance your relationship with your patients by making some simple changes to the way you approach communicating with patients and managing your actions and reactions.
Article shared from MEDIjobs
Scholarships | National Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation and clubs invest in our future leaders and philanthropists by funding scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study. Your local Rotary Club may…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Tips to prepare for a nursing interview
Content shared from Indeed By taking some steps to plan for your interview, you may feel more confident and prepared. Here are several tips you…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Interview Question: “Why Do You Want To Be a Nurse?”
Content Shared from Indeed During interviews for nursing school or entry-level positions, employers may ask you, “Why do you want to be a nurse?” Preparing…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Memorial Day – Sumner College is closed
…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Why nurses love their job
Content shared from Scrubs Magazine staff. We all have good and bad days when it comes to working as a nurse. On my best days,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Register for FREE Nursing Info Sessions
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Info Sessions will be held on our Portland campus. To reserve a spot for an upcoming session please…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Interview with KATU’s Afternoon Live
Joanna Russell, President of Sumner College visits with Kara Mack, host of KATU's Afternoon Live, showcasing the new nursing program at Sumner College, a Bachelor…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Hawaii and the West Coast Beckon to Travel Nurses
Article shared from Travelnurse.com. Written by Jennifer Larson, Contributor Travel nursing opportunities abound in the Pacific Region of the United States, including the West Coast…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Johnson & Johnson | Nursing Scholarships
Nursing Scholarships Whether you're pursuing an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in nursing, there are a variety of nursing scholarships and grants that can provide…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
For healthcare to work, it takes nurses.
Johnson & Johnson is proud to advocate for, elevate, and empower nurses for over 125 years. J&J Objective To attract and strengthen an innovative, thriving, and diverse nursing workforce, empowered to advance health equity and transform healthcare. During…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
May 12 – National Nurses Day
To acknowledge the contributions of nurses and call attention to their working conditions, the International Council of Nurses established May 12 as International Nurses Day in 1974.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nurses Make a Difference: Anytime, Anywhere – Always.
We celebrate the extraordinary contributions Nurses make to our communities, this May 6-12th during National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins each year on May…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College – BSN, LPN, RN to BSN – Classes start July 17th
Sumner College Nursing Programs Our Vision Drives Us. Education with Integrity. Sumner College is committed to providing excellent care to patients in the community through…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Get Started in a Nursing Career
Do you like to help others? Inspired by the possibility of saving and improving lives? For many people entering the nursing field, there’s a feeling…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Find Your Path
There are many different ways into a nursing career. Choose a starting point to get a personalized guide of the steps you’ll need to take.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Welcome New Sumner College Students
Sumner College starts a new cohort of nursing students today. You are embarking on a new educational journey, pursing a career in healthcare. We welcome…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing Students – Tips for the first year
Content shared from nursecrets So, you have been accepted into nursing school. First of all congratulations! You have made it through the process, so now…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RN vs BSN: The Differences
Changes in nursing involve a major shift in higher education standards, requiring more nurses to hold a 4-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). The…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Student of the Month: February 2023 Medical Assisting Program
Kayleigh was selected by Sumner College faculty and staff for the February Student of the Month. Some of the reasons she was chosen include: "....her…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Phlebotomy Program – Arizona
If you're interested in a career in phlebotomy that will allow you to work in a safe, professional environment and give you the skills and…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
20 Types of Nursing Positions
Information shared from Indeed.com 20 types of nursing positions Though all nurses seek to provide proper care and treatment for their patients, their day-to-day duties…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
5 Tips for Working While in Nursing School
Information and article shared from Indeed.com Here are five tips for being a successful nursing student while working a full-time or part-time job: 1. Review…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Pros and Cons of Working While in Nursing School
Information and article shared from Indeed.com Editorial Team The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing and Midwifery
Article shared from the World Health Organization Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
New BSN Program
Enroll today in our new BSN program. Graduate in less than 3 years. Classes start April 24th. Learn more www.sumnercollegeBSN.com …
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
OR Nurses Returning to Full Capacity, plus Backlog
By Debra Wood, RN, contributor In the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, many governors ordered elective surgeries postponed to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE)…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nurses Nurture Their Emotional Health
Article Shared from TravelNursing.com By Jennifer Larson, contributor “How are you feeling?” If the truthful answer to this question is something along the lines of…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Why BSNs are Important
Article shared from TravelNursing.com Cost vs. reward still a factor for BSN-prepared nurses By Debra Wood, RN, contributor When the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
8 Fast-growing Travel Nurse Specialties
This article is sourced from TravelNursing.com. With a nursing shortage compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has driven thousands of nurses from the bedside, many…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Congratulations Sumner College Graduate – Prolyn
PROLYN’S STORY “Prior to enrolling at Sumner College’s Medical Assisting program, I was a psychology student who was extremely interested in medicine. I wanted to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn