Communication Matters September 20, 2023
Checking back
Checking back is a good way to verify information especially when hearing information from a patient, or hearing information from another health care professional. Examples:
(to cardiologist on the phone)…“I want to make sure I am listening well…150 mg of Amiorda-rone rapid bolus?”
(to patient giving a history)…“I want to make sure I am listening well…You said that you’ve had this same pain for two years?”
(nurse to physician)… “I want to make sure I understand your order…you want my to give all three of the nitroglycerins sublingual right after each other?”
We tend to think the assertive patient is a potential problem, but this may not be true. Many of our patients have had significant childhood traumas and addictive behaviors. These events tend to make people “avoidant” instead of aggressive. They tacitly seemed to be OK with what is happening; until they drive home in the car and talk about how bad it was. Therefore, when doing wrap-up, it is particularly important to “check back” with the patient and family with regard to the diagnoses and the game plan followed by the all-im-portant question:
“I have reviewed the plan with you, but I want to check with you to see if you are comfortable and agreeable to this plan?