- Illustrate the importance of family meetings and demonstrate a systematic approach to working with families of patients managing their needs and expectations.
- Use both general and active listening skills to facilitate communication and allow the patient tell their story.
- Demonstrate awareness of different cultural views of ethics, the birthing process, illness, death and dying.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to patients who are a different age, gender or cultural group from oneself.
- Actively elicit and synthesize information from and perspectives of patients and families, colleagues and other professionals.
- Effectively communicate medical evidence to patients in a manner that respects their autonomy and empowers them to make informed decisions.
- Provide patients and families with information or sources such as the internet and written literature regarding preventative care and management of illnesses.
- Use verbal and written language that is understandable by the patient.
- Demonstrate a process of review with trusted and respected colleagues around ethics when adverse events or “near misses” occur.
- Demonstrate the ability to disclose medical error to a patient in a timely manner.
- When confronted with a difficult patient interaction, seek out information about their life circumstances, current context and functional status to help better understand the patient’ s frame of reference.
- Demonstrate an understanding of administrative issues associated with transfer of a critically ill patient, and include the patient and family in decision-making, follow-up after transfer.
- Demonstrate effective empathic communication skills in delivery of life-altering news and difficult information.
- Demonstrate an ability to assess a patient’s motivation to change (e.g. ‘Stages of Change’ theory).
- Utilize effective documentation to record patient information using medical records that are clear, concise, timely and accessible.
- Outline how Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and other electronic tools can be used in practice and how their use can positively and negatively impact the doctor-patient relationship.
- Discuss the use and limitations of communicating by telephone, instant messaging and email both from both a clinical and security perspective.
- Gather information not only about the disease but also about the patient’ s beliefs, concerns and expectations about the illness, while considering the influence of factors such as the patient’ s age, gender, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic background, and spiritual values on that illness.
- Express the importance of continuity, trust and relationships especially when working with marginalized communities.
- Take the time to explore patients preconceived ideas regarding medical care and provide accurate explanations regarding care.
- Show concern for the effects of patients’ past experiences, coping mechanisms or lay knowledge on a patient’s expectations of outcomes.
- Respect privacy and confidentiality of patients.
- Demonstrate proficiency in active listening, verbal and non-verbal skills, expression of empathy, and a respectful, non-judgmental focus.
- Build positive, compassionate therapeutic relationships between patients, families, and health care team members.
- Recognize the importance of continuity in patient care and building rapport and earning trust.
- Use interpersonal skills to effectively manage difficult situations such as conflict, uncertainty, frustration, fear, and grief be it in the physician, patient, and the healthcare team.
- Include psychosocial support of patients, families and friends as part of the treatment plan.
- Develop a common understanding on issues, problems, and plans with patients and families, colleagues, and other professionals to develop, provide and follow-up on shared plan of care.