Influential Role of Communication Skills for a Physician Assistant

The role of a Physician Assistant (PA) is all about communicating, right? They gotta share info with patients and colleagues. They use signs, symbols, and rules to get on the same page with people around them. Imagine having to check out patients, order tests, and even prescribe meds! That’s a lot of talking. From what I’ve gathered from chatting with Kara Benner, a nurse at Michigan Medicine, it’s clear that communication is super important in this line of work.

Why Communication Is Key

We talk in so many ways, don’t we? For PAs, it's not just about saying words; it's about making sure folks understand those words. The School of Medicine PA Program highlights some skills they expect from PAs:

• Listen up and use nonverbal cues.
• Adapt your style based on who you're talking to.
• Work well with doctors and healthcare teams.
• Know a bit about human behavior.
• Keep calm under pressure and ambiguity.
• Document everything correctly for all kinds of purposes.

The Ethical Side of Talking

Talking with patients isn’t just about giving them info; it’s about creating trust. If someone feels down or stressed, you gotta be there with supportive words. As Kara pointed out in our chat, making sure nurses or PAs don't “eat their young” by intimidating newbies can really open up communication lines. Jennifer Anne Hohman agrees too in her article: toxic environments mess up communication at work. So, fixing misunderstandings is crucial!

Keeping It Confidential

A big thing for PAs is keeping patient info under wraps. Patients should feel safe sharing their secrets so they can get involved in their care choices. Take teenagers as an example; there's always this balance between what you tell them and what you tell their parents. Kara mentioned that knowing a patient’s password lets you share info over the phone safely without breaking confidentiality laws—pretty smart system!

Tough Conversations

Ever wonder how to talk to someone really sick? It's tough but necessary. PAs have to help plan end-of-life care while ensuring patients don’t feel abandoned. Kara says choosing words wisely is key when talking to terminally ill patients. And if life support decisions come into play? Well, that's when PAs need to loop in doctors and align with hospital policies.

The Interpreter Challenge

Not every patient speaks the same language as their PA—that's where interpreters step in! But it can still be tricky even then. Sure, family members might help translate in emergencies, but pros are better at handling medical terms according to studies by Emina Hadziabdic et al. So, using professional interpreters whenever possible ensures clearer communication.

Wrapping Up on Effective Communication

You know what? Sharing medical info can be really hard! But good communication makes patients happier and boosts trust between them and providers. Messing up here could make any PA uncomfortable at work real fast. Always remember patient confidentiality matters—a lot! My convo with Kara Benner taught me loads about these concepts in real-world settings backed up by research findings.

References

1. Kara Benner interview conducted on [08.2023].
2. School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program article (n.d.). Expectations for Physician Assistants.
3. Hohman, J.A., "The Importance of Communication in Your PA Career" (n.d.).
4. Emina Hadziabdic et al., "Healthcare Staffs Perceptions of Using Interpreters: A Qualitative Study" (n.d.).