How important is communication as a PA?
"Effective and functional communication is integral to patient care. Not only do you need to communicate with the patient as effectively as possible to build their trust and expectations, but communication must be clear, both verbally and in written form, with every other facet of the team. Communication is crucial to their treatment plan and every other aspect of their care."
More often than not, correctable situations occur because of miscommunication, misinterpretation, or various other circumstances that contributed to poor or uninformed decision-making or confused messaging. In a health care setting, poor communication can have devastating consequences. So, while answering this question, communicate as effectively as possible. Avoid using speech crutch words such as "like," "um," "you know," "so on and so forth," "well," "but," "so," "ah," "er," "literally," "actually," and "basically. " Practice answering without using those words. Whenever you find yourself struggling against them, pause instead. That will present you as a clearer communicator and more of a professional.
On the webpage that details their prerequisites for their PA program, they state, "Students must be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and others in academic and healthcare settings. Students must be able to listen attentively and speak clearly, including communications with patients from different social and cultural backgrounds. Additionally, they must be able to effectively communicate in spoken, written, and electronic formats. Students must be able to identify and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive non-verbal communication. Students must be able to record examination and diagnostic results, accurately, and efficiently using various formats, including electronic platforms."
