This past weekend, a BRODY Professional Development team was in Texas, facilitating a “Physician Speaker Training” program.
During the morning session, what struck me the most was how engaged the physicians were with a simple creative design.
The room was arranged in circles, allowing the doctors to have discussions. The presenters were very interactive and facilitative, and funny.
The slides were easy to read, but didn’t drive the presentations.
The MC, Amy Glass from BRODY Professional Development, moved the program along with grace and humor.
In the afternoon, the large group was then broken into 9 smaller groups, each led by a BRODY facilitator – including me.
Our goal was to teach the smaller groups the steps to prepare, when given a slide deck to present.
We then used the client slides and had the participants (physicians) practice handling difficult audience member questions.
I realized how easy it would be to incorporate this design into corporate presentations and any type of team meeting.
If you want to know how to do it, get back to me: marjorie@brodypro.com.
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Monday, April 6, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Effective Communication is Critical – Especially When Triaging (& Caring for) Hospital Patients
Last week I wrote about the pharmaceutical industry.
This week, it became more personal.
My 84-year old mother passed out in her apartment. Fortunately, she had a medical alert button. So, she ultimately was taken to the hospital.
Hospitals are scary places. You don’t want to be there without an advocate. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
If you are old, sick, or unassertive, you can become a nonentity.
For example, my mother had four different health professionals (nurses, medical students, interns and residents) ask about the medications she is taking.
Did they compare notes? No, they didn’t.
They panicked when they saw something going on in her brain – but no one had recorded the fact that she had surgery 30 years ago for a condition, and there was some scar tissue. My mom told the nurse that, but no one found that note.
My mom told me that she liked a particular doctor. Why? Because she listened. Mom spent days being tested and no one told her for what, and why.
Here’s my take and recommendations for all hospital personnel -- and the irony is, for the most part, the negatives weren’t clinical or medical in nature, they were about good communication.
•Treat patients as people, not a disease state.
•Ask questions – listen – record responses when essential.
•Communicate these answers with all people involved in the “case.”
•Ask the patient what he or she needs – food, drink, the bathroom, medication, etc. Unfortunately, the squeaky wheel still works.
•Keep family members updated frequently – let them decide what information may not be that “essential.”
I realize that hospital personnel are overworked. However, if they treated each patient as though it was their mother (or parent); they might make the experience a bit more pleasant.
Typically, a hospital stay is not a choice, so, please don’t make it any worse!
This week, it became more personal.
My 84-year old mother passed out in her apartment. Fortunately, she had a medical alert button. So, she ultimately was taken to the hospital.
Hospitals are scary places. You don’t want to be there without an advocate. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
If you are old, sick, or unassertive, you can become a nonentity.
For example, my mother had four different health professionals (nurses, medical students, interns and residents) ask about the medications she is taking.
Did they compare notes? No, they didn’t.
They panicked when they saw something going on in her brain – but no one had recorded the fact that she had surgery 30 years ago for a condition, and there was some scar tissue. My mom told the nurse that, but no one found that note.
My mom told me that she liked a particular doctor. Why? Because she listened. Mom spent days being tested and no one told her for what, and why.
Here’s my take and recommendations for all hospital personnel -- and the irony is, for the most part, the negatives weren’t clinical or medical in nature, they were about good communication.
•Treat patients as people, not a disease state.
•Ask questions – listen – record responses when essential.
•Communicate these answers with all people involved in the “case.”
•Ask the patient what he or she needs – food, drink, the bathroom, medication, etc. Unfortunately, the squeaky wheel still works.
•Keep family members updated frequently – let them decide what information may not be that “essential.”
I realize that hospital personnel are overworked. However, if they treated each patient as though it was their mother (or parent); they might make the experience a bit more pleasant.
Typically, a hospital stay is not a choice, so, please don’t make it any worse!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
“Without Promotion, Something Terrible Happens: Nothing” – PT Barnum
For years, I have worked with many clients in the pharmaceutical industry, and thought that the companies – and the industry as a whole – needed to communicate more effectively in promoting the great work they do.
Do they make a profit? Let’s hope so!
After all, that helps to develop new drugs, which can cure diseases, and help with chronic illness, etc.
In my family alone, we benefit from their drug development in the areas of high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, allergies, a host of infections, the flu, and, of course, the common cold.
I personally am grateful for drug development.
Do they make a profit? Yes.
I know I already said that, but it’s worth repeating – because making a profit helps the economy.
They pay taxes, and they have people who buy goods and services, and, therefore, pay taxes in turn. I believe this is a way to stimulate the economy.
America is a capitalist country – there is nothing wrong with making a profit.
The goal is to do good, and do well.
20 years ago, I used to say to my pharmaceutical clients that they needed to promote their industry differently -- in terms of the good that they do in the world, the lives that are saved and have been changed as a result of their efforts and products.
Somehow, the message has been lost on the public.
Why am I on a rant about this today?
I spent this past weekend in Texas, with eight other BRODY facilitators, presenting/facilitating at a Physician Speaker Training program.
I was impressed with the client’s commitment to drug development, clinical education, and patient care.
I understand and support rules, regulations, and compliance regarding promotion in the pharmaceutical industry. But, let’s not get so restrictive that education stops, and we, the public (and patients), suffer.
What’s the bottom line here?
Don’t assume that anyone knows the good that you do. It’s up to you to make sure that your message is widespread.
Do they make a profit? Let’s hope so!
After all, that helps to develop new drugs, which can cure diseases, and help with chronic illness, etc.
In my family alone, we benefit from their drug development in the areas of high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, allergies, a host of infections, the flu, and, of course, the common cold.
I personally am grateful for drug development.
Do they make a profit? Yes.
I know I already said that, but it’s worth repeating – because making a profit helps the economy.
They pay taxes, and they have people who buy goods and services, and, therefore, pay taxes in turn. I believe this is a way to stimulate the economy.
America is a capitalist country – there is nothing wrong with making a profit.
The goal is to do good, and do well.
20 years ago, I used to say to my pharmaceutical clients that they needed to promote their industry differently -- in terms of the good that they do in the world, the lives that are saved and have been changed as a result of their efforts and products.
Somehow, the message has been lost on the public.
Why am I on a rant about this today?
I spent this past weekend in Texas, with eight other BRODY facilitators, presenting/facilitating at a Physician Speaker Training program.
I was impressed with the client’s commitment to drug development, clinical education, and patient care.
I understand and support rules, regulations, and compliance regarding promotion in the pharmaceutical industry. But, let’s not get so restrictive that education stops, and we, the public (and patients), suffer.
What’s the bottom line here?
Don’t assume that anyone knows the good that you do. It’s up to you to make sure that your message is widespread.
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