Professional Attitudes and Communications

1
Professional Attitudes and Communications

• Chapter 3

2
Issues of Cultural Diversity

• We are far more culturally diverse than our
  grandparents generation
• Dont judge a book by its cover- generalizations
  about ones culture can be misleading- avoid make
  generalizations about someone just because they
  are dressed a certain way
• Examples of cultural groups on page 72
• Culturally significant attitudes toward health
  care- discussion
• Professional responsibility and ethics in
  relation to diversity

3
Communication Skills

• Non-verbal
• Eye contact (Asian patients may feel threatened
  by direct eye contact- keep it to a minimum when
  dealing with them)
• Touching (avoid friendly touching gestures such
  as putting your arm around someones shoulders-
  could be taken the wrong way by some ethnic
  groups)
• Appearance
• Listening skills
• Verbal skills- clear and concise
• Attitude (when dealing with co-workers)
• Validation of communication
• Communication under stress

4
Communication With Patients

• Addressing the patient
• Valid choices
• Ambulatory patient one who is able to walk
• Assessment critical skill of the radiographer
• Older adults
• Children and adolescents
• Those who do not speak English- always provide a
  translator if possible they will interpret only
  what is said to and from the patient
• Hearing impaired
• Deaf
• Impaired vision
• Aphasiac patients- these patients may use an
  electrolarynx
• Mentally impaired
• Altered state of consciousness

5
Patient Education

• We are moving toward more direct patient
  teaching, involving the patient in the plan
  whenever possible
• Educating the patient is essential and these
  skills must be honed so that you are comfortable
  when you educate
• Patients will relax and cooperate much better
  after they have been educated
• Discuss patient teaching methods on p. 87

6
Communicating with Patient Families

• You will deal with family members almost as much
  on a daily basis as you do patients
• Anxiety on the part of the family member may come
  across as agression
• Fear frequently engenders anger keep this in
  mind if family members get testy
• Diagnosis identification of condition
• Prognosis prediction of outcome

7
Dealing with Death and Loss

• Elizabeth Kubler-Ross stages of grief
• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance
• Hospice service that allows patients to die
  with dignity in a familiar surrounding
• Palliative treatments care that provides relief
  but is not intended to cure
• Oncology cancer treatment
• DNR do not resuscitate

8
Communication With Co-Workers
9
Medical Information and Records

• Attention to details is a must
• Charting refers to any records that you are
  expected to add to a document
• Chart refers to a more extensive compilation of
  information
• Written records must be accurate, pertinent and
  legible
• Accountability you must take accountability
  when you are charting medical information
• When faxing medical information, always follow up
  with a phone call to insure the document was
  received by the appropriate person

10
Important Points in Charting

• Never erase or use white-out in a chart draw a
  line through the error and write error above it
• Always date and initial the correction
• Never leave blanks on forms write NA or O
• Never insert loose slips of paper
• Include all 4 digits of the year when writing
  dates
• Date and sign entries and include your title
• Vitals are charted in graphic form

11
POMR

• POMR is problem-oriented medical recording
• It is a faster and more accurate way to retrieve
  medical information
• Traditional charts keep a running commentary on
  the patients total condition POMR will list the
  patients problems and then you can locate the
  problem that concerns you.
• When charting observations or treatments on
  behalf of the radiologist, include the
  radiologists name followed by a slash mark and
  your signature if possible, have them sign under
  your name
• POMR will include problem list, allergies, tx
  plan and vital signs