CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST 71 LINICAL in every relationship. It is no different in healthcare and cosmetic medicine procedures. Understanding how to communicate with your patients effectively will help you be a better practitioner and deliver a satisfactory patient experience. Here are five tips to help you foster effective practitioner-patient interactions: 1. Avoid Assumption When It Comes to Your Patients Needs Many healthcare provider-patient interactions fail early on because of assumptions that the healthcare provider has drawn. This is why it is vital to allow patients to voice their concerns and be receptive to them. This will entail you asking more questions and letting your patient describe their situation in detail. Your patients will feel respected and valued when you ask their opinion on things. 2. Listen Attentively to Your Patients The key to a successful healthcare providerpatient interaction lies in the healthcare provider’s ability to listen to their patients. For a healthcare provider to provide the best possible care, they must understand each patient’s unique needs. Show care and interest in the patient you are treating by actively listening to them. Show that you are engaged in your patient’s needs, thoughts, and emotions through your words, tone, facial expressions, and body language. It takes time to listen. The patient will see that you are genuinely interested in their health and well-being, which leads to compliance. 3. Acknowledge Your Patients Emotions It’s not just about the technical side of medicine and prescribing the right prescription. There’s a psychological aspect attached as well. People’s emotions, as well as what’s going on in their lives, shape who they are. This is why it’s so important to take your time and slow down during healthcare provider-patient interactions. Ask your patients questions about their situation and let them know you will be there for them every step of the way. 4. Help Your Patients Manage Their Expectations In some situations, you may need to manage your patient’s expectations about treatments and recovery. When you have a conversation with your patient, try to put yourself in their shoes. Let them know what to expect. Take the time to outline any possible complications or side effects, treatment options, long-term outlook, and alternative treatments. Vague answers leave patients wondering why they received a specific treatment or, worse yet, feeling a sense of mistrust or a lack of confidence in their healthcare provider. 5. Never Respond Defensively to Your Patients Try to understand what your patients are concerned about and acknowledge their concerns if they become upset. You should remember that this is a stressful time for the patient, and they are more likely to be emotional. Where can you learn more? Effective communication is essential to have a successful healthcare providerpatient interaction. You can change a patient’s perception of you by making them feel understood, valued, and heard. The results could ultimately improve their health by complying with medication schedules, treatment regimens, and followup appointments. When you create a strong healthcare provider-patient relationship, your patients feel heard and understood, and all their treatment options explored. There is great value in attending conferences focussed on multi-disciplinary approaches to treatment. It brings doctors, dentists, nurses, and dermal therapists together to discuss and provide you with the education for your patient treatment plans. The Non-Surgical Symposium is being held on the Gold Coast in June 2023 and all dentists and health practitioners are invited to join. The benefits of the NSS are immense. The key benefits are: 1. There will be many keynote speakers from both Australia and across the globe coming to discuss all things related to the treatment and business of cosmetic injectables. I am excited this year to attend the anatomy workshops, as well as attend the business lectures to hear about the approach that successful clinics use to implement treatments that work for their financial success and importantly for patient results. There are business and communication lectures from leaders in the field. 2. All the suppliers in one place. Similar to dental conferences, the NSS exhibition brings together equipment and product suppliers from across the globe. If you are thinking of venturing into more than just cosmetic dentistry and cosmetic injections, this is the place to be. 3. Dentists are welcomed to the NSS. The convenor of the Non Surgical Symposium, Naveen Somia is a well respected plastic surgeon based in NSW. He envisions the conference as a meeting place, where we all learn together for patient safety. This conference bridges the gaps between professions and helps us network together. I will be attending this conference, as I have over the last few years. It is my favourite. u Find out more about the NSS, visit: https://nonsurgical.org.au/ If you are interested in stepping into cosmetic injectable treatments, please visit www.dermaldistinction.com for more information.
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