title: Addressing physicians' impaired communication skills.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deficient physician communication skills can lead to complaints by patients and colleagues. While there are many communication training courses for physicians, there are few descriptions of programs that address their deficiencies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This report describes the use of a coaching model developed by the author to remediate inadequate communication skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  The coaching model consists of a discrete set of communication skills that are gradually integrated into professional activities while debriefing that process in a supportive relationship.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcomes are provided for the first 13 physicians coached after the approach was standardized. On a Likert scale (range, 1-7), with 7 expressing "high satisfaction," all participants rated the consultation in the 5-7 range (mean, 6.3), and all supervisors rated the consultation in the 6-7 range (mean, 6.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A coaching model is effective in improving communication skills deemed inadequate by physicians' patients and colleagues. Future work should evaluate the impact of integrating coaching into health care organizations and on developing new tools to augment coaching.
authors.affiliation: The Foundation for Medical Excellence, 1639 SW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97221, USA. begener@lhs.org
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Egener
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003253:Consultants; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011361:Professional Competence
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