How poor doctor-patient communication leads to worse outcomes

Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, "How poor communication is killing patients and burning out doctors," exploring the devastating impact of unclear or avoided conversations in health care. Pamela shares firsthand experiences from the emergency room, where patients often arrive not just for treatment but for clarity about their diagnoses and prognoses. She highlights the systemic failure of communication between specialists and patients, leading to unnecessary ER visits and emotional distress. Pamela urges specialists to take responsibility for having difficult but essential discussions about prognosis, treatment expectations, and palliative care. She provides actionable steps for improving patient education, reducing miscommunication, and alleviating the burden placed on ER physicians. This conversation is a call to restore trust and humanity in medicine through clear, compassionate communication.

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