Interpersonal communication and patient-focused care

![CDATA[Communication plays a critical part in the everyday work of a paramedic. The best way to facilitate effective communication is to have a thorough understanding of the underlying principles. Effective paramedic–patient communication is fundamental to collecting sufficient information to determine an accurate diagnosis and gaining the support of the patient for the preferred treatment. In the diagnostically limited setting of emergency healthcare, the paramedic’s ability to communicate effectively is often the primary tool to gather information that will assist in developing a treatment plan. Patient-focused care is care that goes beyond merely forming a provisional diagnosis and medical treatment; it aims to understand the patient holistically, and in that way enables improved patient satisfaction and outcomes; patient-centred communication forms a vital part of this. The ability to communicate effectively is not a personality trait. There is evidence suggesting that effective medical communication can be taught and improved.]]