Developing physician communication skills for patient-centered care

• Published in: Health Affairs Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 1310 - 1318
• Main Authors: Levinson, Wendy, Lesser, Cara S, Epstein, Ronald M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The People to People Health Foundation, Inc., Project HOPE 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Certification; Chronic illnesses; Collaboration; Communication; Emotions; Feedback; Health care delivery; Health care policy; Health policy; Health services; Humans; Learning; Medical education; Medical schools; Medical service; Medicare; Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act 2010-US; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - legislation & jurisprudence; Patient safety; Patient satisfaction; Patient-centered care; Patient-Centered Care - standards; Patients; Physicians; Physicians - psychology; Primary care; Professional-Patient Relations; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Reimbursement, Incentive; Self Care; Skill development; Skills; Students; Teaching; Training; United States > US
• ISSN: 0278-2715; 1544-5208
• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0450

Growing enthusiasm about patient-centered medical homes, fueled by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's emphasis on improved primary care, has intensified interest in how to deliver patient-centered care. Essential to the delivery of such care are patient-centered communication skills. These skills have a positive impact on patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and self-management. They can be effectively taught at all levels of medical education and to practicing physicians. Yet most physicians receive limited training in communication skills. Policy makers and stakeholders can leverage training grants, payment incentives, certification requirements, and other mechanisms to develop and reward effective patient-centered communication.