Art Of Communication Competence Analysis

The Art of Communication Competence The importance of being able to communicate well is vital for everyone and even more so for health care providers. In the health care profession the ability to be a competent communicator is truly a necessity and essential for good health care. Angela Perry author of Talking to Your doctor writes, “The highest level of satisfaction with medical care and the best treatment outcomes occur when both doctor and patient communicate openly and honestly and work together closely to achieve shared goals” (2). While this is proven to be true, we all too often hear and read about the lack of communication skills healthcare providers posses when dealing with their patients. This leaves us wondering,
Crowley and Heyer informed us, “It is an activity that goes back about one hundred thousand years ago as our early ancestors communicated through nonverbal gestures and has evolved into a complex system of spoken language (7). Beyond that, we now also realize that communication is much more than just language. It is multifaceted and consists of many different things. Thousands have even made a living trying to decide what makes a high-quality, competent communicator, and hundreds of books and movies show us the importance of first-rate communication and ways in which it can best be obtained. A well known movie that looks at the importance of competent communication in both health care and life is called “Patch Adams”. It takes a deep look at the magnitude of and different styles of communication frequently seen in the healthcare system. While viewing this movie and watching the relationships Robin Williams has with his patients, one can definitely see the significant role that competent communication has on a person’s social needs, identity needs, practical needs, and most of all, a person’s physical needs. The film leaves the viewer asking the same questions analysts all over the world ask, “How can we become a nation that realizes the importance of communication and all become competent communicators?” The answer may not come easy for everyone, but
This is not as simple as one might think. Michael Nichols stated it just right when he wrote, “Listening is so basic we take it for granted. Unfortunately most of us think of ourselves as better listeners than we really are” (11). In the movie we saw numerous doctors that never really listened to their patients. On the other hand, Patch Adams full heartedly listened to each and every one of his patients. He was never a stage hog, an ambusher, or a selective listener. He had every characteristic that a “true listener” possesses and authors Adler, Rosenfeld, and Proctor remind us of what that is when they wrote, “In truth, listening- especially mindful listening- consists of five separate elements: hearing, attending, understanding, remembering, and responding” (181). Patch had all five elements. Another author, Michael P. Nichols, wrote an explanation of a competent listener that I think really describes Patch as well as any skilled listeners, “Genuine listening means suspending memory, desire, and judgment- and for a few moments at least, existing for the other person” (64). Looking at the wonderful examples of true listening Patch Adams demonstrated to viewers and thinking about what makes a truly competent listener should make us all realize that this is one area that we can all improve in since, “effective communication