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Importance of communication in a family clinic
By Kenneth Kee
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION In order to treat and diagnose a patient it is important to communicate with the patient well.You must be able to listen attentively to the patient's every complaint and make sure that every complaint is addressed in your treatment. In 90% of the patients, the history provides the diagnosis even before the physical examination is done.
If you can try to talk directly to the patient in his own Chinese dialect, Malay and English rather than through an interpreter, know a bit of his culture and diet, you will be able to get more information out of the patient to form a diagnosis and treat according to their complaints. Each complaint should be written down so that you do not forget to treat it.
Other information can be elicited by a series of questions so that most of the usual complaints are covered.
Always ask if there is any else that the patient may have forgotten to add to the history.
In children usually the mother or grandmother will be around to help in providing a history.
In the case of the deaf or hearing handicapped, try to write out the questions if he is able to understand written instructions and allowed him to answer back either verbally or in written form. I had a patient who id deaf together with his wife. However he is able to communicate through his son.
In the case of the blind if he is able to talk, getting a history is of course no problem except maybe for description of color of his stools or things which they cannot see. Otherwise getting a history from a blind person is easier than from the deaf. The only problem is that you may need to guide him in and out of the clinic without knocking into chairs or other people.
For foreigners such as Thai and Japanese a few choice word like pain and gestures will help in communication. Of course if they have a friend who can communicate in English it will definitely be easier to get a history.
With a good history, the physical examination can be restricted to the main complaints.
For example in a fall you will want to know whether the patient is able to walk after his fall, any disability, abrasions, cuts, swellings, or blackouts. Any symptoms of head injury such as loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, or blurring of vision or symptoms of brain injury.
Effort should be spent on explaining why you are asking the questions and what physical signs you are looking out for.
Treatment is then based on the illness diagnosed as well as symptomatic treatment for all the complaints.
The rationale of the medicines given and the side effects to be expected must be also explained as well as preventive measures to be done by the patient himself (eg drinking more warm water,avoid certain foods, doing certain exercises and living a healthy lifestyle.)
A newbie to world of internet marketing. At the age of 62 years, I am struggling to learn the ins and outs of online marketing . I am a educator,part-time health care worker,computer hardware hobbyist,now ebook writer and internet marketer. I am also a full time lifelong learner. Graduated in 1972, did my Masters in 1991 and doctorate in 1993.
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A Family Doctor's Tale
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You communicated that beautifully.
This is a 5***** intel, Kenneth with loads of good advise.
Sorry that I missed it when it first game out.
I hope that you will share more intels with us.
Best wishes.
Frederick (a 75 year old newbie}
The copyright for this content entitled "Importance of communication in a family clinic" has been specified by the contributor as:
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If you use this content according to the license specified, you must link to the following URL:
http://kenkee.qondio.com/
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This intel was contributed by kenkee
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May, 2012
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