News + Issues

How to communicate with your patient: part I (video series)

As dental students, our experiences involving patient communication are rather limited. While we have the ability to practice our craft on a manikin, we can never fully prepare ourselves for the different scenarios where we may need to manage a patient in order to provide quality care. This three-part video series focuses on how to navigate difficult communication situations, so that hopefully you would be prepared when faced with a similar situation!

~David Ho, Midwestern-Arizona ’18, member, Video Blog Subcommittee

David Ho

David Ho, a third year dental student at Midwestern University-Arizona, currently serves on ASDA's Video Blog Subcommittee as well as historian for his local chapter at MWU. Originally from Texas, David enjoys photographing the starry nights of Arizona, and making dental parodies with his classmates.

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1 Comment

  1. Jessica Hinz says:

    This is a perfect example of a missed opportunity for empathy. You are dealing with strong emotions. In addition to the very good information that was recommended, an upset patient needs to know that you understand and care about them. A statement like, “I understand you are upset. Finances are a big worry for you.” demonstrates that you care about the patient’s situation. An apology can also go a long way to helping a patient calm down as well. Not an admission of guilt or fault, but a simple, “I’m sorry this happened.” can help a lot. Once the patient hears your care, then solutions can be presented and the patient is more likely to get into a problem solving mode with you.

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