QHow do you empower and support patients in your clinic?

One of the biggest reasons I chose to go into medicine is to give patients a voice — to make them feel seen and heard, all while feeling comfortable in their own skin. Far too often, patients come to our offices telling us they felt rushed, dismissed, or judged during previous provider experiences. It is our responsibility as clinicians to be intentional in how we engage with patients and how we disseminate knowledge so that patients can make informed decisions.

Part of being a clinician is being an active listener. It is important to understand patients’ goals and to remain nonjudgmental. When discussing treatment options and a plan for patients, I like to ask my patients what types of treatments they are open to beforehand. For example, with acne, I often like to discuss if they’re willing to take oral medications if I think they would benefit. If I am met with resistance, I don’t spend much time talking about different types of oral medications that we have in our arsenal. Rather, I state how much clearance I think they might achieve with topicals alone and why I think they could benefit from an oral option based on what I see on physical exam. Therefore, I can spend more time during the appointment on different topicals and pros/cons of these options. I also like to assess timeline. Are they willing to be a bit more patient? Topicals generally take longer to work. It’s important to set expectations to avoid disappointment. Sometimes, when patients are presented with the knowledge they need to make decisions, and depending on what they prioritize in their goals of care, they may change their mind.

Treatment options, along with discussion about medications’ potential side effects, allows patients to understand their choices when it comes to their care. Vehicle delivery can also be equally as important. I always tell my patients that I can give them the best medication, but if they are not going to use it, it really does not matter.

By being an active listener and taking the time to inform our patients, we can implement shared decision making to enable patients to feel like active participants in their care, making them feel seen, heard, and empowered.