A new institute in Chicago is going to focus exclusively on doctor-patient interaction and communication. The Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence at the University of Chicago will bring together physicians from all different stages of their career to improve communication and decision-making. This comes as welcome news to patient safety advocates.
“Doctors and patients ought to feel confidence, respect and trust in each other,” said Dr. Mark Siegler, the Executive Director of the Bucksbaum Institute. “Good patient care begins with clinical competence, but it combines technical skills and clinical judgment with close attention to the patient’s individual values and needs. The doctor-patient relationship relies on communication, discussion and negotiation. They work together to search for the best decision for the patient.”
Miscommunication, misdiagnoses, and other medical mishaps increase the risk of patient injuries and death. Incidents of medical malpractice rise when a culture of safety is not upheld. The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare reports that communication errors are the leading cause of sentinel events. These events pose great danger to patient health and livelihood. Health care staff can often feel afraid to speak up about missteps they see in the course of a day in a hospital, office, surgery center, or long-term care facility. The Joint Commission says that, “This reluctance stems from lack of knowledge, fear of retribution, intimidation or hierarchy issues – all elements that weaken a safety culture.”
Centers like the Bucksbaum Institute can go a long way to improving communication skills not only between the doctor and patient, but enhance communication between colleagues. Especially when 80 percent of serious medical mishaps are due to miscommunication when patients are handed-off to the next staff on call or are transferred, there is still room for improvement.
The Bucksbaum Institute will target a select group of senior physicians, junior faculty, and medical students each year to improve skills in order to assist patients in making informed decisions, particularly when they are faced with a wide array of treatment choices. The institute expects to make a lasting impact on better patient care and address a wide variety of patient conditions and illnesses that come up at the University of Chicago Medical Center and beyond.
Individuals and their loved ones can take legal action when poor communication has resulted in injuries or a wrongful death.
Paul Greenberg is a Chicago personal injury lawyer and Chicago personal injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
