The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Our members develop and market new medicines to enable patients to live longer and healthier lives. Show
Ethical relationships with healthcare professionals are critical to our mission of helping patients by developing and marketing new medicines. An important part of achieving this mission is ensuring that healthcare professionals have the latest, most accurate information available regarding prescription medicines, which play an ever-increasing role in patient health care. This document focuses on our interactions with health care professionals that relate to the marketing of our products. Appropriate marketing of medicines ensures that patients have access to the products they need and that the products are used correctly for maximum patient benefit. Our relationships with healthcare professionals are critical to achieving these goals because they enable us to:
In interacting with the medical community, we are committed to following the highest ethical standards as well as all legal requirements. We are also concerned that our interactions with health care professionals not be perceived as inappropriate by patients or the public at large. This Code is to reinforce our intention that our interactions with health care professionals are professional exchanges designed to benefit patients and to enhance the practice of medicine. The Code is based on the principle that a healthcare professional’s care of patients should be based, and should be perceived as being based, solely on each patient’s medical needs and the healthcare professional’s medical knowledge and experience. Therefore, PhRMA adopted this updated and enhanced voluntary code on relationships with U.S. health care professionals. PhRMA member companies’ relationships with clinical investigators and other individuals and entities as they relate to the clinical research process are addressed in the PhRMA Principles on Conduct of Clinical Trials and Communication of Clinical Trial Results. As a proud member of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Health Care Professionals embodies the principles of the IFPMA Code and we strongly endorse the Ethos of trust that serves as the foundation for the IFPMA Code and industry’s interactions with the health care community. The PhRMA Code on Interactions with Health Care Professionals was last updated in August 2021.
In the game telephone, players sit in a circle and whisper a brief message, moving from one person to the next. The game typically ends with the room erupting in laughter when the last person restates what they heard, only to learn that the original message has been distorted through a series of miscommunications. Effective communication in health care, unlike telephone, isn’t a game. Much is at stake:
Effective communication in health care can make a life-or-death difference. Health administrators and other healthcare professionals can benefit from learning more about types of communication in health care, barriers to communication in health care, and evidence-based strategies for effective communication in health care today. Barriers to Communication in Health CareCommunication is foundational to all layers of the healthcare system, but it’s often problematic. Fortunately, professionals in this field can take steps to overcome many common barriers to effective communication in health care. Patient Distrust and DiscomfortAt the patient-provider level, patients may not feel comfortable disclosing sensitive information, such as substance misuse or sexual dysfunction, to their care providers. Patients withhold medical information for many reasons:
Common Language BarriersPatients often have difficulty communicating needs or symptoms when their provider does not speak their language or when the healthcare organization has not supplied an interpreter. Healthcare organizations that don’t prioritize culturally competent care (including the use of interpreters to bridge communication gaps between patients and providers) fall short in delivering adequate support to their communities. Providers Stretched Too ThinSkillful communication enables healthcare providers to establish rapport with their patients, solicit crucial health information, and work effectively with all members of a care team and the public. However, a packed clinical workday often requires providers to rush from appointment to appointment — resulting in conditions in which communication can easily get lost in the shuffle. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who come across as cold or aloof damage the patient-provider relationship. Providers who signal disinterest or distraction when talking with patients may lose the goodwill and trust of the very people they seek to help. Fortunately, evidence-based strategies for communication in health care can keep communication streamlined. Even a few extra minutes of communication can result in more efficient healthcare delivery for all. Mismanaged Healthcare FilesWith the growing amount of healthcare data, care teams have expanded in number and reach. Dozens of doctors, nurses, administrators, and other medical professionals at a hospital may all need to read a single patient file — opening the door to potential miscommunications that can affect treatment. Providers and administrators need to work hard to ensure that healthcare information stays confidential, accessible only to the necessary parties of a care team. Controlling how many individuals can access confidential patient information helps healthcare teams communicate accurately and clearly and limits misunderstandings or communication breakdowns. Why Is Communication Important in Health Care?Healthcare leaders understand that effective communication in healthcare organizations starts with recognizing the importance of listening to one another. Collectively, medical professionals have a wealth of knowledge and expertise. That wellspring goes untapped when providers rush from one appointment to the next without allowing themselves time to listen and communicate effectively with patients, when patients feel unsafe, when care teams store medical information improperly, or when health organizations fail to employ interpreters for cross-cultural communications. Skillful communication is essential to health care. Clear, honest communication between patient and provider paves the way for accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions. Similarly, clear, confidential communication between members of a care team (which often includes patients and multiple providers) results in swiftly and ethically delivered care without breaching confidentiality. Providers can help patients feel heard, ease their fears, and encourage them to disclose relevant information. For example, a patient who feels embarrassed about a pubic rash will likely feel more safe mentioning this to a provider who they know will treat them with compassion and a professional demeanor. In addition, every person deserves to understand the medical care they receive. That means that healthcare organizations may need to do better to train and hire interpreters so that patients can give their informed consent to treatment. Strategies for Effective Health CommunicationTo overcome the many barriers to effective health communication, consider the following recommendations. Sit Down and Be HumbleStudies show that when a patient and their provider are seated during office visits and hospital check-ins, the two parties can build trust more easily. When a provider sits down to talk with a patient, the patient perceives the visit to be longer and more intimate. This can quell patient anxiety about communication. Ask Open-Ended QuestionsPatients often feel uncomfortable voicing their concerns, even after a few minutes of empathetic conversation. Doctors and other care providers should ask whether patients have more to say. Ask patients some variation of “Is there something else you’d like to talk about today?” Doing so can create space for patients to reflect and voice concerns they might not have mentioned otherwise. The “BATHE” technique guides providers to ask patients questions that solicit more information and develop rapport.
Communication in health care gets easier when we all ask questions and prepare to listen. Speak in Plain LanguageProviders should avoid medical jargon, where possible, and instead rely on plain language to communicate with patients. Where jargon is appropriate, providers should always define the medical language clearly (e.g., “This stethoscope is a device for measuring heartbeat”). Speaking in plain language communicates to patients that providers care about having a two-way conversation with them, rather than just delivering a monolog. Keep Communications ConfidentialAn entire hospital wing may be able to access a patient’s file, but that does not mean they should. Limit access to individual case files to only the members of the patient’s care team. Refrain from casual discussion of patient issues with anyone outside the team. Hire Interpreters and Culturally Competent Staff at Every LevelHealthcare settings should be safe spaces for people who need treatment — not environments that tolerate racism, xenophobia, classism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, or other forms of discrimination. Healthcare organizations should hire interpreters as needed to ensure that all patients can communicate effectively. For every patient, hearing and being heard by healthcare providers is a basic right, essential to culturally competent and effective treatment. Interpreters help ensure healthcare organizations recognize and fulfill this right. Communicate Like a Leader in Healthcare SettingsWith so much at stake, communication in health care is a serious priority. As such, health care needs leaders who recognize the importance of communication. Tulane University’s Online Master of Health Administration prepares you for a career in healthcare leadership. Be the change you want to see in health care and learn more about how to improve health care from the inside, with better communication and better treatment. Recommended ReadingsWhy Community Health Is Important for Public Health What Is Health Equity? Ensuring Access for Everyone Why Healthcare Advocacy Is Important SourcesHIPAA Journal, “Communication Strategies in Healthcare” Kognito, “Interpersonal Communication in Healthcare” Rural Health Communication Hub, “Health Communication” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Health Communication” What is the main goal of a healthcare professional?Health professionals play a central and critical role in improving access and quality health care for the population. They provide essential services that promote health, prevent diseases and deliver health care services to individuals, families and communities based on the primary health care approach.
Which of the following is one of the main goals of a health system?The primary objectives of any health delivery system are to enable all citizens to receive health care services whenever needed, and to deliver health services that are cost-effective and meet pre-established standards of quality. does each play in the delivery of health care?
Which action is most likely to increase the effectiveness of communication when a patient is having difficulty understanding the health care worker's instructions?Be sure your facial expression communicates caring and reassurance. Which action is most likely to increase the effectiveness of communication when a patient is having difficulty understanding the health care professional's instructions? Use pantomime.
What is the primary goal of health care and how is it accomplished?The primary goal of healthcare is to restore optimal physical, emotional, and spiritual health to patients. This goal is accomplished by promoting health, preventing further illness and restoring health where illness or accident has occurred.
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