First responders focus on making sure that patients requiring critical care get the timely best treatment possible. As John Rose Oak Bluff points out, emergency medical services or EMS allows experienced professionals to effectively respond to reported incidents and provide their expertise to those on the scene. It is vital to understand that EMS teams cannot fill their roles in isolation. They need everyone on each team to understand the importance of effective communication with both patients and hospitals. After all, EMS teams can actually make or break the ability of a hospital to provide effective patient care.
John Rose Oak Bluff talks about how EMS providers should communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals
An EMS provider would have to interact with patients, usually on one of the worst days of their lives. Hence, emotions would be high in the situation, and the interactions are likely to be very different that what one usually has with people outside of work. This is where one would need the skill to communicate effectively. The duty of an EMS provider would involve gathering as much information as possible about the patients to build trust and provide them with the necessary care and support. In many situations, simply communicating calmly and compassionately works the best. A lot of people fare better during a crisis when their fears are dealt with compassion.
It is vital to understand that obtaining information from people is not at all an easy task. Building a connection and earning the individual’s trust is vital when seeking the necessary information to provide proper care. Certain inquiries may delve into personal or uncomfortable topics, requiring sensitivity. It is essential to explain to the individual the significance of sharing comprehensive information and assure them of the confidentiality obligation, so as to foster an environment of trust and openness.
Active listening is another important skill for EMS providers. Patients are more inclined to engage in conversations when they feel acknowledged. EMS providers must employ active listening methods, such as establishing eye contact, aligning with the patient’s physical level, and reiterating crucial aspects of their communication, so as to improve the likelihood of effective communication. If there is a need to document or input data into a computer, it is advisable to inform the patient of such actions while reassuring them that attentive listening persists.
As John Rose Oak Bluff points out, apart from patients, EMS providers also need to maintain effective communication with other healthcare professionals like doctors and patients, in order to ensure the overall care of the patient.
Effective communication with other healthcare providers, such as nurses and doctors, plays a vital role in the patient’s overall care. Very often, the only information that nurses and doctors receive is the information EMS providers gathered while on the scene. Hence, it is imperative for EMS providers to present an accurate depiction of the events on the scene and convey it efficiently, enabling emergency staff to administer appropriate patient care. Any miscommunication or omission of information holds the potential to jeopardize patient well-being and safety. The primary objective of doing so is to facilitate a seamless shift from pre-hospital care to definitive medical attention.
