Can We Talk?

What skills make a good clinician? To answer, many of us begin by listing technical skills like “They always start IVs on the first try,” organizational skills like “Their appointments always run on time” or indications of satisfaction, “Residents and families always have the best things to say about them.” The last time you considered your clinical skills or those of your colleagues, did communication skills come to mind? Rarely do we think of communication skills when asked to describe clinical skills, yet failure to communicate critical information in a timely manner or to speak up about a concerning observation can lead to devastating outcomes.