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8 Things to Never Say to a Patient
Nina Kim, Georgia Price | AllHealthcare
You don’t get to choose your patients. So your relationship with them can range anywhere from “match made in heaven” to “your worst nightmare.”
Any appointment can be a potentially difficult situation, mainly because when patients come to see you, they’re probably already anxious. They may be concerned about what’s ailing them, be uncomfortable with the sterile atmosphere, or have a general distrust of medical practitioners.
Regardless, proper patient care requires utmost clinical professionalism and good communication.
But “good communication” doesn’t necessarily mean “tell all.” While transparency is important, there are certain phrases healthcare professionals should never say to their patients. Ever.
To help you keep your patients at ease, AllHealthcare came up with 8 things you should never say to them. We’ll also offer suggestions for what to say instead.
elvira76
almost 3 years ago
2 comments
i found out the hard way when you try to be nice and you use the words honey,or sweetie to an elderly patient your fellow employee boss thinks as it is harassment? is this true? most of my patients dont mind these are my generly older population?
metot
almost 4 years ago
82 comments
thanks for the tip:)
OTOldie
almost 4 years ago
68 comments
It's difficult to try and empathize with what your patient is going through without saying, "I completely understand what you're going through." But I'll agree it's one of the worst things you can say, even though your intentions are probably good. You haven't been there, so you probably don't know what they're going through!
juliedanurse
almost 4 years ago
4 comments
'Whoops!" is only bad if followed by 'Oh well, he didn't need that anyway' :)
Cameron01
almost 4 years ago
118 comments
yeah, the medical language always scares patients. i'm glad to say i never heard a practitioner say 'whoops!' and i hope to never in my lifetime, lol!!!
mehubb
almost 4 years ago
2 comments
The best thing is to be HONEST and talk in "people" language, not medical language.