As Providers, We Speak at Least Two Languages

By Scott Kanagy, DO, chief medical officer, Atrium Medical Center and Miami Valley Hospital South

Over the holidays, I visited a dear friend from medical school and his family, who are Greek. We met at his parents’ house. When I arrived, the house was filled with great smells of food and a hot Greek coffee waiting for me. We all sat down and started to talk and share updates on our families and the past year's experiences. About 15 minutes into the conversation, my friend's father abruptly stopped the conversation and apologized to me. Their families' first language is Greek, and the entire 15 minutes of the conversation had been spoken in nothing but Greek. Though I was able to understand about 5% of the conversation, nod my head yes when others did, and laugh along when appropriate, I understood almost none of the 15 minutes of conversation.

While driving home that night, I wondered how much of providers' conversations with their patients is understood. I used this phrase many times "I think you may have a pulmonary embolism, so I am going to get a D- Dimer. If it is positive, I will get a CT scan of your chest, and if that is positive, I will treat you with an anticoagulant, and you will need to be admitted to the hospital." This is very clear to most of us reading this, but how about our patients without any medical background?

When we discuss HCAHPS, we talk about two key areas: provider and nurse communication with the patient and each other. Do our patients feel the same way I did that night, sitting there for 15 minutes knowing I was among those who cared about me but had no idea what they were saying? This is a question all of us need to ask ourselves every day. We all want the best for those we treat, and they want the best for themselves. However, if we do not communicate with each other so that everyone understands the plan and how best to execute it, we will never be successful. Sometimes, taking the time to do the little things, such as making sure everyone understands the plan, can make all the difference in how things turn out. Please take the time to communicate effectively. It’s worth it for everyone.

Back to the January 2025 issue of Premier Pulse