Andrew Gust Dr.

Rice IS 401 19 September 2011 Communication in Medicine Introduction: In the medical field, communication is perhaps the most important tool in treati ng a patient. From checking past hospital visits and illnesses, to planning futu re surgeries, having proper timing and communication is vital when lives are on the line. Medical Doctors (MD) are constantly reading, talking to peers, attendi ng seminars, all in order to continue learning more about their field. From thei r intense education, to doctor to doctor connection, medical professionals must utilize all forms of communication in order to be succesful in their field. Education and Training Practices: Doctors go through an incredible amount of education and training before being a llowed to ever make medical decisions on patients. Beginning in college, an inte nsive course load of biology and the sciences must be taken, to earn the bachelo r s degree known as Pre-Medical. These first years begin a long road of schooling, which often is able to weed out the lesser suited students vying for medical sc hool positions. Late in college, a test called the Medical College Admission Tes t (MCAT) is used to further differentiate students. Just as high school students are evaluated by colleges before admission, medical school applicants are also judged on a number of factors. The main deciding fac tors are GPA, MCAT scores, shadowing and experience in the field, and an intervi ew. Once accepted, the first two years are spent mainly in the classroom, or in human anatomy labs with cadavers. Here students learn detailed anatomy, physiolo gy, terminology, and many other classes to build upon their previous college stu dies. After two years of basic knowledge building classes, students are moved to what are known as "teaching hospitals", where they work along side professionals in t he field. Here they gain vital experience by interacting directly with a doctor and patient, finally allowed to observe and practice under a guided eye. This co mpletes the first training of a medical doctor, as they graduate in their fourth year and gain the title of "Dr." for the very first time. With the newfound let ters behind their name, students will then hope to earn a fellowship for more sp ecialization in whatever specialization of medicine they desire. Oral Communication Practices: As a cutting edge physician, it is necessary to attend many lectures and confere nces to stay up to date with the newest technologies and research. Word of mouth can be one of the most valuable resources to a new or experienced doctor, as lo ng as the source that the information is coming from is legitimate! In my time s hadowing in a pediatrics office, I was able to see Dr. Maria Steelman communicat ing with other MD peers on almost a daily basis. Sometimes it may have been to c heck simple facts ( Are you still using this vaccine, or this one? ), to calling a p atients cardiologist to check for compatibilities between a medication and a kno wn cardiac disorder. The possibilities are endless in taking care of a human bei ng, but their is always a chance that a fellow physician has seen something that you had not come across before. Although not all doctors possess the greatest "bedside manner", doctor to patien t communications are as necessary as any when talking about health issues. When dealing with serious topics with patients or families, an honest physician is th e best that we can hope for when needed. The ability to pass on a difficult mess

age to others is a skill that is hard to perfect, but a necessary one as the med ical field deal with both life, and death. In regards to lighter subjects, docto rs must be able to maintain a professional attitude no matter what the situation . Being able to make a patient feel comfortable and free to speak without embara ssment allows for the absolute best care possible. In this way a doctor can be b oth and ear to listen, and one with ability to fix, help, and heal. Public Perception of the Field: It is common for the general public to assume that most doctors spend all day se eing patients. Although in a perfect world that is what many doctors may WANT to be doing, the reality is that a being a MD requires constant learning, educatio n, and lots of paperwork. No, those thirteen years of post high school education are still not enough... What a patient sees from their point of view, is only a small part of what a real medical career would consist of. Working on paperwork, researching, and teaching all play their part in the daily ritual of most doctor s. Conclusion: In medicine, efficient and accurate communication is one of the most important t ools that physicians use. From interaction with patients, to fellow doctors, to the general public, there will always be a need for a strong communicator to giv e the most important information to those in need. With the exponentially improv ing technologies being developed and the best trained individuals to use them, m edicine is quickly becoming more painless than ever.