title: To avoid misdiagnoses and unnecessary care, take the time to engage patients, listen to their concerns.
abstract: Despite time constraints and other pressures, emergency personnel can improve both outcomes and patient satisfaction by taking the time to engage patients in decisions about their care, according to Leana Wen, MD, MSc, an emergency medicine physician and the director of Patient-Centered Care Research at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Wen has written a book aimed at helping patients advocate for themselves, but she also notes that many emergency providers could be doing a better job of asking patients about their concerns. Wen advises nurses and other emergency staff to prompt patients to organize their thoughts and preparequestions while they are waiting to see the provider. She also urges providers to explain to patients why they are doing certain tests or procedures. This can help providers avoid unnecessary steps, and to formulate a better plan of care. With respect to patient satisfaction, Wen acknowledges that some patients maynot be happy when they are denied antibiotics or other care thatthey are requesting, but she notes that such concerns are usually assuaged when providers take the time to explain why the requested test or prescription is not advisable.
mesh_terms: D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures