PATIENT- AND FAMILY-CENTERED CARE: Partnerships for Safety & Quality Staff Physician & Resident Physician Toolkit
The Power of Words
A Family Member’s Perspective
Doctor—Birmingham
Awareness of the impact of the words we use unconsciously is a key skill for patient- and family- centered practice.
Watch your Words Medical talk “Dialysis is the process of osmosis, diffusion, and ultrafiltration used to restore electrolyte and fluid balance and remove waste products from the blood.” Plain talk “Dialysis is a way to clean the blood now that my kidneys have failed.”
Use of Language in Communicating Clinical Information
Negative or Confusing Words ▼ Chief complaint ▼ Patient refuses ▼ Discharge ▼ NPO ▼ Analgesic ▼ Anti-inflammatory ▼ Ambulatory Clinic
Words That Make It Clearer AVOID ▼ Chief complaint ▼ Patient Denies ▼ Discharge ▼ NPO ▼ Analgesic ▼ Anti-inflammatory ▼ Ambulatory clinic USE ▼ Patient/family observations or concerns ▼ Patient prefers/decides ▼ Going home or to another setting ▼ Nothing to eat or drink ▼ Medicine for pain ▼ Medication to reduce swelling ▼ Clinic
Empowering Words AVOID ▼ Allow ▼ Permit ▼ Require USE ▼ Offer ▼ Choose ▼ Support
Informed Consent….…….Informed Choice
The Power of Words: Labeling Words to Avoid ▼ Dysfunctional ▼ Non-compliant ▼ Uninvolved ▼ Demanding and difficult ▼ A “no show”
The Words We Use A Brainstorming Exercise