Importance of Communication, Concepts, Models, and Respective Reasons - Essay Example

Maria & Apos’s Case Study Maria & Apos’s Case Study Importance of communication, concepts, models,and respective reasons Communication plays a vital role in the society and mostly social institutions such as schools and hospitals (Barker and Angelopulo, 2006). The story has portrayed various defects in the communication systems between individuals at social places. It has provided various concepts in communication that have occurred between the patient and the doctors. The challenging interactions between the two parties would have led to devastating results. The doctors have little or no contact with the patient and do not enquire on what she is feeling before making their decision. However, the patient’s stubbornness and persistence through constant communication turns out to be the savior of the unborn child. The key role of communication in the story is to create a common ground for the patient and all the doctors that were allocated to her care. Patient-physician communication seeks to improve the knowledge gain that assists in the medical practices (West and Turner, 2011). The story has portrayed the presence of barriers to health communication practices that are importance for the patients health. The presence of various doctors attending to Marias case calls for constant communication to provide detailed information on the patient. Communication processes represent a group media that requires complete comprehension from both parties. However, the story describes a different situation where the doctors are making their decision without seeking knowledge from the patient. There is the lack of effective communication both verbal and non-verbal especially from the physicians sector. Proper communication channels take into account the limitations, strengths and possible solutions to any situation that is being handled. The comprehension of such approaches depends on personal behaviors since doctors attend to a variety of patients (West and Turner, 2011). Two things the provider did well in the story The provider used her medical expertise to check on the patient’s case by examining her verbally and physically. She had also acquired detailed data on the patient that was showing previous medical records of the patient. After the examination, the provider used the information to cater for the patient despite her harsh approaches. The provider also had better communication skills compared to the other male doctors. She approached the patient by asking her questions on her pregnancy and physician at her hometown. She also insisted on a medical examination that would provide lab results for the patients. The provider organizes plans for the patient to get access to a phone that she uses to call her personal physician to clarify on the abortion issue. Despite her communication setbacks, she assists the patient. Two things that the provider could improve on However, the provider needs to improve on some issues that include personal communication and relationships with clients. She should have approached the patient in a polite manner and create a communication base that would have assisted her in gathering more information on the patient. Additionally, she should have involved the patient in decision-making rather than presenting pills that would have terminated the patient’s pregnancy. Additionally, the provider should improve on patient handling skills. She was too rough on the patient during the cleaning process and did not seem to care what Maria was feeling. The patient too has to demand for an ultra-sound for more than one time while the nurses do not seem to care. The provider on the personal physicians clinic is also heard talking to another person before concluding the conversation. Two things the patient did well as portrayed in the story The patient stands by her principles and does not let the nurse change them. She is courageous enough to request for a phone to contact her physician. The nurse provides information that she should not take the abortion pills despite her poor communication skills in the conversation. The misunderstanding between the providers would have cost her the baby. The patient was also courageous through the whole situation and did not give up on her pregnancy. The storys topic also describes her action as she turns from being the ‘lamb to the ‘lion. She is cautious enough to save her child amidst all the loss of blood. One can learn from her monologues that she does not believe in abortion unless her life is in danger. Two things the patient could improve on The patients interaction is brief, and she does not provide all information. She prefers to suffer alone and depends entirely on the doctors. The patient does not inquire from other nurses in her state and stays in the hospital for 13hours before the female doctor comes to her rescue. The patient is scared; hence, creating a conversation barrier between her and the provider. Most of her conversations are monologues rather than speaking out to the doctors so that she may be handled with care. She does not inform the doctor about the pain she is undergoing while the blood clots are being cleaned. Shared meaning and whether it has been incorporated in the story to achieve patient-provider interaction Shared meaning was not completely achieved in the interaction. Both parties involved in the communication process should be in the same ‘page. Shared meanings comprise of various principles that give rise to effective communication skills. The patient and provider were not at the same level of understanding due to various communication barriers. The interaction calls for the sender to detailed and clear messages that radiate authenticity of the matter at hand. The receiver should listen, clarify the message and trust the sender in order to have a common ground. However, Maria’s case is different because both the sender and receiver have barriers preventing the relay of critical information. For example, the patient does not provide all information about her pregnancy and what she goes through while at the hospital. She also prefers monologues rather than opening up to the nurse so that she would take extra care while performing her operations. Additionally, the provider does not gather detailed data from the patient that would assist in the practices. She just presents abortion pills without considering the patient’s decision. There is poor interaction between the patient and provider that would have lead to loss of life. Interpersonal and group interactions are important since they would have provided a common delivery method for information between the two parties (Sparks and Villagran, 2010). References Barker, R., & Angelopulo, G. (2006). Integrated organisational communication. Cape Town: Juta. Sparks, L., & Villagran, M. (2010). Patient and provider interaction: A global health communication perspective. Cambridge: Polity Press. West, R., & Turner, L. (2011). Understanding interpersonal communication: Making choices in changing times (2nd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth. Read More