Instead of reading, you could also just listen …
Any visit to the doctor can be quite traumatic for children.
As a medical specialist, I do not only want to prevent trauma, that might be associated with treatment.
My goal goes further than that. The aim is to empower the child to partner with me in their care for their health.
My background?
My experience in healthcare started in 1994 as a junior doctor, during my training in Germany. Since then, I have worked at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre as Ear-Nose-Throat consultant. Since 2019 I focussed my attention on paediatric Ear-Nose-Throat healthcare.
In my view, the role of the healthcare professional is to serve, to support and to involve the child and their parents. This is relevant in all aspects of diagnostics and treatment.
My experience as patient
As many of us, I had m own experience as a patient. And I have come across some good and some bad communicators.
The quality of the experience is almost like a lottery: Will the doctor and I click?
No instruction for the doctor
On the other hand, my own instructions on, “How to run an outpatient clinic?”, were non-existent!
In the end, all doctors find their way in relationship with paediatric patients.
My point of view
What bothers me is this randomness, although there are clear psychological principles involved here.
I believe that the relationship between doctors and children demand a conscious application of these principles and that the quality of the interaction is not depending on a positive personality trait.
This is who I am:
An ENT-consultant, who is passionate about the fun and the cooperation between me, the health care provider, and the child.
Judgement within a split second
It is evident, that the recipient judges all the communication, not the sender!
When our patients do not understand us, health care professionals should ask themselves: “Are we sending the message in a way, that the child and parent understand, what is going on. And if not, why not?
This is the topic of this blog/ podcast.
What about you?
Communication lives on comments … fancy to share yours?