title: Communication as a core skill of palliative surgical care.
abstract: Excellence as a surgeon requires not only the technical and intellectual ability to effectively take care of surgical disease but also an ability to respond to the needs and questions of patients. This article provides an overview of the importance of communication skills in optimal surgical palliation and offers suggestions for a multidisciplinary team approach, using the palliative triangle as the ideal model of communication and interpersonal skills. This article also discusses guidelines for advanced surgical decision making and outlines methods to improve communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, 02903, USA. TMiner@USASURG.org
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Miner
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D059035:Perioperative Period; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative