Dr. Byron Brown is an obstetrician and gynecologist who currently
plies his trade in a teaching hospital, which allows him to pass on the
benefits of his own experiences to younger doctors. One of the key areas
that he focuses on is ensuring patients feel as comfortable as
possible, which is particularly important for medical professionals with
his specialty. The following is useful advice for those who are
struggling to help patients feel comfortable.
Establish Common Ground
Trust
is going to play a large role in whether or not your patients feel
comfortable around you, so you need to establish it as quickly as
possible. This should be done from the first appointment, which you
should spend getting to know the patient, as well as the ailment that
needs to be treated. Establish some common ground and engage in
conversation to make patients feel at ease.
Listen Intently
If
patients feel as though their doctors aren’t listening to them they are
less likely to be completely open when offering information. Don’t
allow yourself to become distracted during your appointments and
demonstrate you are paying attention by asking relevant follow-up
questions that allow you to gain more information.
Make Waiting Time Less Boring
Waiting
is often unavoidable for patients and many will become anxious in the
time it takes to see their doctors. As such, medical facilities and
private practice owners should focus on making the waiting experience as
comfortable as possible. Provide reading materials, videos and other
free-to-use content so patients’ minds can be occupied before the
appointment.
Dr. Byron Brown is a doctor with many years of experience.