The importance of dialogue in each contact with patients

Photo:Christin Hume

The conversation between the patient and the doctor is crucial in health care. Each contact with a patient needs to be properly established. Therefore, we can say that there is a huge importance of establishing a proper dialogue in each contact with the patients. In this article, we are going to take a look at why this is exactly the case and how the dialogue can be improved. With trusted, better-established dialogues, patients are going to have an easier and more enjoyable time throughout their health care journey.

The effects of poor dialogue with the patients

First of all, let us take a look at some of the negative effects of poorly-established dialogue with the patients. Errors in health care, unhappy patients, and badly delivered services are some of the major outcomes of a poor dialogue with the patients. Communication needs to be efficient, and effective at the same time. A chatbot talking with patients for example is not going to be able to recognize each patient's needs. In turn, it is also not going to be able to deliver optimal health care services and establish a proper relationship with the patients.

Each patient requires a slightly different approach in communication. That is why each dialogue with each patient is slightly different. Poor communication can lead to misinformation, bad scheduling, and so many other problems. With a well-established dialogue, however, this is all eliminated. If the dialogue with the patient is not efficient and effective from the start, you can expect the effects of poor dialogue to happen.

Understanding patient's needs

We have mentioned already that each patient is different. This means that patients may need a different approach in communication. Establishing a proper dialogue is so much more than simply offering the available health care services to the patients. The initial dialogue with the patients needs to be clear, effective, and supportive. Listening to your patient's needs is also a big part is establishing a trusting relationship and an effective dialogue. Seeking clarification when necessary is also a big must. This is the best way to quickly correct miscommunication and wrong information being delivered.

When looking at the state of health care in the world right now, we can see that many health care providers are being overwhelmed with the number of patients. This often leads to the inability to provide enough time to each patient and establish a proper dialogue. However, as technology is advancing, it is more and more being used in health care. Dialogue with the patients is one of the things technology in health care can improve when established properly. However, we have mentioned above that a chatbot for example cannot have the means of effective communication with the patients as it does not have the ability to approach each patient differently and communicate efficiently at all times. So, how about AI? Let's take a look.

The usage of AI in dialogue with the patients

AI has been a relatively new implementation in the world of health care. We have talked a little bit about the overwhelming number of patients in the last two years. A higher number of patients have put an enormous strain on all of the health care providers throughout the world. Therefore, the world of health care has been seeking new, innovative solutions for health care providers. However, since the technology is constantly developing, so are the capabilities of an AI in health care. So, how can AI help with the patient dialogue? For starters, AI can do a lot of things that a chatbot or call center cannot. A processing engine, built 100% to manage health interactions, will have the ability to deliver the most effective, but also personal, dialogue with the patients, which is something a chatbot cannot achieve. Furthermore, unlike call centers, for example, AI has the ability to function 24/7 and be effective and efficient at all times.

The AI's ability to personalize conversation with the patients has been one of its main advantages in establishing an effective dialogue. The patient can receive clear, timely information at all times and choose the appropriate health care services with an automated appointment and schedule that is both faster and easier. Most importantly, trust is built as the dialogue is personalized and the patient feels much more comfortable, safer, and can take an active part in his or her health care journey. Dialogue is important in each contact with the patient, not just the initial one. That is why innovative solutions and online services such as confirmation of appointments, check-ups, follow-ups, and so on have been essential in increasing the effectiveness of the patient's dialogue with the health care provider.

The importance of dialogue with the patients in summary

So, to sum up, what we have said so far in this article, the importance of dialogue in each contact with patients is paramount. A well-established, personalized dialogue that is both efficient and effective means a better patient journey as well as delivery of the right health care services. The communication with the doctors themselves also needs to be effective.

How can this be achieved? The patient needs to have trust and fluent, clear communication with the health care provider from the start. With the usage of new, innovative solutions, digital services, and platforms as well as AI, the effectiveness of the communication with each patient can be increased. Finally, timely delivery of every piece of information is important for each patient's journey.