Dr. Danielle Ofri on the Importance of Effective Doctor-Patient Communication
Dr. Danielle Ofri is correct to state that the single most powerful diagnostic tool remains the doctor/patient effective communication. Speaking at Mayo Clinic in 2017, on closing the gap between a doctor and a patient, she insists that in order for the doctor to understand the patient, there is a need for a proper communication. Listening to and understanding the symptoms the patient is experiencing helps the doctors to give the most appropriate diagnosis. If the doctors choose to talk more than listening, they might end up misdiagnosing the patient. She supports this by quoting two philosophers who talk about listing first.
The Importance of Reading Between the Lines
First, patients are not completely aware of all the pertinent medical knowledge required for a correct diagnosis and its context. They can say too much or too little. It's the doctor's job to read between the lines and extract the influential information without jumping to conclusions based on the patient's explanation about what they feel(Ofri, 2017). However, a doctor might pay less attention to those concerns and only focus on what is medically relevant. It is not only about "fixing them" medically, but all their concerns have to be heard and addressed.
The Impact of Cultural Diversity on Doctor-Patient Communication
Patients from different backgrounds communicate differently verbally and non-verbally. Thus, it is important for a doctor to receive diversity training and exposure to communities they are not familiar with to avoid misdiagnosis. Otherwise, it could lead to patients feeling neglected or disrespected.
My Experience in the Jamaican Healthcare System
From my experience in the Jamaican Healthcare system, I learned that Medicine is a multidisciplinary field based on human interaction and communication. I learned that doctors have to show empathy, care for their patient's welfare and address all their concerns. Doctors have to be active listeners, use open questions and allow patients to express themselves. Today, doctors have become more involved in their patient's lives, they act as counselors and help them cope with other aspects of their lives.
The Doctors as a Source of Hope
Patients look to doctors to alleviate their pain; they view doctors as hope. They might not be well informed, they could come from different backgrounds and their whole lives could be on hold while they are getting treatment. Doctors need to be receptive and ready.
Works cited
Ofri, D. "The Most Powerful Tool in Medicine - Danielle Ofri." 13 Nov. 2017, danielleofri.com/powerful-tool-medicine/.
