I. Effective Communication

Criteria for Assessment

1. Listens effectively
1. attentively
2. non-judgmentally
3. patiently
4. accurately interprets the responses or results obtained from the patient's eye contact
2. Respects the patient as a person
1. elicits and respects patient's values
2. exhibits cultural sensitivity
3. uses interpreter appropriately as necessary
4. communicates empathy
5. maintains confidentiality
6. tactfully handles difficult patients and situations
7. conforms with ethical guidelines
3. Uses verbal language effectively
1. clear, comprehensible, organized
2. appropriate for audience
4. Shares information effectively with patients, families, and health care team members
1. conveys information accurately
2. explains options fully
3. elicits degree to which communications were understood
4. invites questions, clarification, reactions
5. utilizes effective patient education strategies
5. Uses written language effectively
1. effectively reads medical literature
2. understands and appropriately uses medical jargon and abbreviations
3. produces written communications that are legible, sensitive, clear, comprehensible, organized, succinct and at a level appropriate for intended readers
6. Uses computer technology effectively
1. uses bibliographic databases as a resource for patient care, research and problem solving
2. understands and uses word processing
3. uses computer for communication with patients, families, health-care team members and insurance companies

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