Strong Communication and Medical Management Skills Produce Better Outcomes
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (from McGill University in Montreal) examined patient medication adherence and concluded that a physician’s medical management and communication skills influenced whether a patient stuck with the regimen. Given the significant impact medication adherence has on healthcare quality, costs, and outcomes, we all have a stake in figuring out what makes patients adhere to doctors’ treatment recommendations.
The study found doctors with strong communication skills had the lowest noncompliance levels and concluded that these findings are significant because they point to possible steps providers and healthcare organizations could take to improve medication adherence by educating and training physicians. Researchers felt that the more communicative physicians may have had better results “either because they followed up with their patients more effectively, or their patients were more motivated to report problems.”
Communication is key! This study bears out the importance of communicating effectively, to get better outcomes. We know that and see that all of the time.
The study also notes the importance of a physician’s medical management skills. And this is where our collaborative approach works so effectively. Physician support is critical to all care coordination/care management programs, ours included. Care managers can help patients follow doctor’s orders when there is strong physician medical management and those lines of communication remain open and strong.
