Words Matter: Sticks, Stones, and Stigmatizing Language
Every conversation with a patient, whether in the hospital room, on the phone, in the hallway, or with a family member is an opportunity to share crucial information. The key factor for relaying information accurately and to achieve shared decision making is to use patient centered language and non-medical jargon. Our language choices in these conversations can influence the perceptions of patients, family members, and other health care providers.
Clinical educators are role models for efficient communication with acutely ill patients. The critical part is to engage in a conversation that improves patient and family member understanding of the acute illness and allows them to feel heard. In this workshop, we will give background information including reviewing the literature on the effectiveness of using patient centered language for increasing patient satisfaction as well as reducing bias among providers. In small groups, participants will analyze a case and examine clinical documentation that has different levels of stigmatizing language. We will then debrief in a large group while focusing on ways that practitioner communication and documentation can improve. In the next part, small groups will debate potential feedback mechanisms they would use with learners or colleagues after observing a role play of morning rounds. Finally, we will debrief as a large group on how to provide this feedback to promote the use of patient centered language. Participants will walk away with a toolbox of strategies focused on elimination of physician bias and patient blame during a clinical encounter.
Clinical educators are role models for efficient communication with acutely ill patients. The critical part is to engage in a conversation that improves patient and family member understanding of the acute illness and allows them to feel heard. In this workshop, we will give background information including reviewing the literature on the effectiveness of using patient centered language for increasing patient satisfaction as well as reducing bias among providers. In small groups, participants will analyze a case and examine clinical documentation that has different levels of stigmatizing language. We will then debrief in a large group while focusing on ways that practitioner communication and documentation can improve. In the next part, small groups will debate potential feedback mechanisms they would use with learners or colleagues after observing a role play of morning rounds. Finally, we will debrief as a large group on how to provide this feedback to promote the use of patient centered language. Participants will walk away with a toolbox of strategies focused on elimination of physician bias and patient blame during a clinical encounter.