Patient Assistance, Communication and Monitoring

Communication Basics

Communication is verbal, written (instructions, forms and signs) and nonverbal (facial expression, eye contact, posture, gestures, touch and tone of voice). When words and body language disagree, the nonverbal message is usually the more believable one, in both directions. Introduce yourself, confirm identity, and explain the exam in plain language: its purpose, about how long it takes and, if asked, that the dose is kept as low as possible. Check understanding with teach-back, asking the patient to repeat the key instruction in their own words, because many people answer yes when asked whether they understand even when they do not.