Introduction
For health professionals to succeed in their careers, increasing patient communication, interpersonal interactions, and office service are key attitudes. Given this fact, learning how to communicate with patients more effectively can be quite engaging. The HIPAA Privacy Rule, which applies to health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers who engage in specific electronic healthcare transactions, was established to protect people’s medical records and other personal health information (Cohen & Mello, 2018). The Rule, among other things, covers disclosure and authorization, mandates reasonable protections to preserve the privacy of personal health information, and grants people control over their health information.
Appropriate Ways of Communicating Protected HIPAA Information
HIPAA has improved patient access to care by assuring consumer confidentiality and protection. The HIPAA Act was established as a law to protect patient privacy, give patients access to their medical records, and designate who may speak on their behalf. Healthcare organizations may improve information and data quality and reduce information and data errors by using an effective EHR system (Cohen & Mello, 2018). As an illustration, electronic health record (EHR) systems enable medical facilities to save and retrieve precise patient information for use by healthcare providers, patients, and occasionally, during a patient’s later stay and across care locations. Clinical staff may be able to provide safer, more effective care using embedded clinical decision support systems and other tools than when relying only on memory and paper-based systems. EHRs can also aid medical facilities in screening, enhancing, and reporting data on the safety and quality of patient treatment.
Best Ways of Communication with a Patient and Other Medical Providers
There are several ways to ensure the best communication between patients and medical providers. Listen to the patients first. Establishing a relationship and gaining trust is tough when only one side communicates their ideas. Avoid the temptation to have one-sided conversations. By demonstrating curiosity, the healthcare professional creates space for the patient to open up, which can be crucial for him to express what he truly thinks and feels effectively. Second, be sympathetic during the consultation. The experts most likely to deliver bad news to patients are doctors (Cohen & Mello, 2018). Lastly, consider the patient’s communicative environment. While interacting with patients, it’s crucial to pay attention to the environment where the service will be provided. Medical professionals may have to speak louder when approaching patients in an emergency, which is problematic because voice tone accounts for 40% of non-verbal communication.
Worst Ways of Communication with a Patient and Other Medical Providers
Patients who seek medical attention are already feeling discomfort. The discomfort leads to uncertainties, worries, and a lot of doubts that need to be clarified and monitored by experts. According to a Cohen & Mello (2018) study, doctors ignore 54% of patient complaints and 45% of their concerns during consultations. Additionally, most consultations indicate that the primary cause of symptoms is unagreeable to both the patient and the clinician. The findings point to communication issues between doctors and patients, which may be the root of complaints about the quality of the service and care received. The patient may occasionally be unsure of the procedure or uncomfortable raising inquiries. In other instances, the doctors decide not to give the patient a chance to speak. Cohen & Mello’s (2018) survey of Parisian physicians revealed that the physician utters 83% of the words during consultations.
Conclusion
HIPAA has typically positively impacted patients’ medical records. Currently, the privacy of medical records is protected by federal law rather than a patchwork of state legislation. The measure results from a 10-year effort to set a higher bar for safeguarding patient data privacy. Medical professionals must foster an environment that encourages effective communication with their patients. The primary obstacle to efficient doctor-patient communication is making the two parties more human. It could be done by being more willing to let the patient participate in the consultation or by paying closer attention to and better comprehending their issues.
Reference
Cohen, I. G., & Mello, M. M. (2018). HIPAA and protecting health information in the 21st century. Jama, 320(3), 231-232.