Communication Strategies for Paramedics: A Case Study Analysis

This essay delves into the critical role of effective communication within paramedic practice, emphasizing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills essential for delivering quality emergency medical services. The author, drawing from personal experience, presents a clinical example involving an elderly patient with dementia and hearing impairment, highlighting communication challenges and the importance of adapting strategies. The essay identifies key requirements for paramedics, including clear communication, a calm demeanor, active listening, and the ability to convey information to both patients and hospital staff. It then explores the humanistic theory of communication, emphasizing the importance of understanding patient emotions and individual needs. Furthermore, the essay analyzes potential communication barriers, such as lack of patient response and hearing difficulties, and proposes interventions like using body language, active listening, and person-centered care principles. The author concludes by reiterating the significance of effective communication in providing accurate patient assessments and delivering optimal care in pre-hospital settings.

Communication Essay
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Paramedic are generally consider as an individual or healthcare professional that engage
in delivering the emergency health care or ambulatory services to patients outside the health care
setting (Goldbart and Caton, 2010). Therefore, it is essential to engage in effective
communication within the paramedic practice so that they may easily deliver the required
services. The present essay focuses on acknowledging example from the clinical practice that
focuses on determining the knowledge, attitude and skills required by the paramedic for
communicating effectively.
a. Identify the knowledge, attitudes and skills required by paramedic in order to communicate
effectively
Presently I am rendering services as the paramedical professional on the ambulance that
mainly ensure rendering emergency medical services (EMS) to the patient on the ambulance.
While rendering services on ambulance I have been encountered with the case of an old lady that
met with an accident and was been taken to the hospital for further treatment. It has been
assessed that lady who met with an accident was 65 year old and was suffering from dementia.
Along with this, in the past she also met with a minor accident that leads to temporary hearing
impairment. While taking to the hospital I was unable to communicate with her as she was
partially unconscious that lead to impact the communication with her. On the other hand, at that
time as paramedic staff my key responsibility is to communicate with the family members of old
lady but due to unconscious mindset of patient I was unable to communicate. In addition to this,
at that time I have also identified that I must also communicate properly with the hospital staff
and professional regarding the emergency case that is on the way to hospital (Edward and et.al.,
2012).
It is required by paramedic to have clear and concise communication with the patient to
whom they are giving emergency services. Along with this it is also assess that I must engaging
in speaking in the calm and confidence tone with the patient and other colleagues those who are
within the ambulance rendering services. In addition with this it is also assessed that effective
communication also plays significant role in dispatching and conveying the information to the
personnel with the emergency department within the hospital so that they may easily prepare for
delivering emergency services to the accident patient. With the effective and god communication
as a paramedic I must also eliminate unnecessary or inadequate chatter and get to the specific
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knowledge and information so that they must convey to the patient. It has been also identified
that I must also require communicating and transferring information regarding the emergency
case that is on their way to the hospital staff as well as co-workers so that they may prepare to
handle the patient. In addition to this as paramedic I must also own effective listening skills to
centre on the speaker telling that further results in lowering the risk associated with the
misunderstanding.
In addition to this, with effective communication skills there are certain attitudes that
need to be required by me so that I can easily assists the patient and provide them required
services. It has been assessed that as paramedic I need to have strong physical strength so that I
can easily lift, bend as well as kneel down to pick up the patient and allow them to reach at the
hospital so that they may acquire effective medical treatment over there (Street and Epstein,
2009).
Therefore, for attending and communicating effectively it has been identified that as
paramedical professional I must require effective knowledge, attitudes and skills that would
support me communicating effectively to the patient. Thus, in order to communicate effectively
it has been determined that as paramedic I must have proper knowledge regarding the emergency
medical services that is provided to patient at the time when they met with an accident. It has
been also identified that I must also have proper knowledge regarding performing the activities
related with diagnosing so that I can properly deliver services to patient while taking them to the
hospital.
With the certain knowledge as paramedic I must also have the communication skills so
that I can effectively communicate with the different individual that is colleagues on the
ambulance, to the hospital staff or professionals so that they may prepare the theatre for treating
the emergent patient. While performing services in outside the hospital environment that is in
ambulance I must have effective communication skill so that I can convey the short and clear
message to colleagues regarding operating the old lady. On the other hand, I also lack the
interpersonal skills as I must have adequate interpersonal skill so that I can easily provide
comfortable and calm environment to patient. S , that patient can easily overcome the situation of
shocked and stressed. Along with this, through considering case scenario it has been also
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assessed that as paramedic staff I am unable to communicate with patient as she have hearing
impairment as well as dementia that act as the major barrier related with communication.
In order to communicate effectively within the working environment I have determine
that my attitude towards the patient must be calm and quiet so that I may easily studied the self
harm behaviour. With the help of this attitude I must also engage in performing pre-hospital
thrombolysis so that I may easily read the ECG that support me in treating the patient in effective
and proper manner. Along with this, it has been also assessed that I must also skills related with
active listening so that I can give full attention to patient related with what they are conveying.
b. Communication theory related with clinical example
Humanistic theory of communication determines that each service users own with the
unique health related problem or illness so that they cannot be covered in particular category.
Humanistic theory of communication focuses on the patients emotions and feelings (Scott,
Gazmararian and Baker, 2002). By understanding the perspective of patients it would benefit the
paramedic in understanding their feelings and emotions and with the help of this they can render
proper solution to the patients. This theory emphasis on the concept that by providing proper
caring and love to the patients will connect them with the external masses and also support in
overcome their communicating difficulties that they are facing.
Along with this, humanistic theory of communication defines about need of self
actualization. Major focus is given under this theory for understanding need and requirement of
patient so that treatment can be given in effective way. It is vital that individuals should be
encouraged for self actualization so that they can realize their actual needs and perform well.
Humanistic theory concentrates for psychological treatment of people. Better treatment can be
rendered to individuals and it will help for taking the person out from the illness stage
(Tindall.O'Malley, Cohen and Grossman, 2010). Person suffering from any mental diseases are
encouraged for not to get depressed and discouraged. Major focus is given on present moment
and intra family relationships are also encouraged. It is vital individual suffering from any kind
of mental diseases should investigate for finding cause of suffering. It will help for giving better
and effective medical treatment to the person and physical, mental and social well being of the
individual can be ensured through this.
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With the help of implementing the humanistic communication theory I have determine
that there are different potential barriers that I face while communicating with the patient having
dementia and hearing impairment. It mainly include-
Lack of response
In order to deliver the emergency service within ambulance as paramedic I face some
potential barrier that hinders my communication with the patient. As the patient suffer from
dementia as well as hearing impairment they lack in giving the instant response or reply to my
actions. Therefore, it is assessed that this potential barrier would directly affect my services that
ultimately results in delaying the responses.
Hearing difficulties
Along with this, using humanistic theory of communication it also results in determining
the potential barrier related with hearing difficulties (Ewles and Simnett, 2003). The patient to
whom I am attending is having temporary hearing impairment condition. Thus, it results in
improper coordination among the actions that are conveyed by paramedic.
Intervention used to overcome the barrier
In order to overcome the potential barriers related with communicating it has been
assessed that there are several intervention that must be used by me so that I can easily overcome
the identified barrier related with the communication. The different interventions that is used to
overcome the barrier include following-
Communicating through body language or physical contact
Through considering the emergent case of old lady it has been assessed that for
overcoming the barrier I must engage in communicating with the help of gesture and body
language. It has been assessed that in order to successfully communicate with the patient having
hearing impairment and dementia as paramedic I must engage in using body language so that
they may easily understand the information that is conveyed by me to the patient. This
intervention is used when the patient are impaired and possess inability to hear (Rabiee, Sloper
and Beresford, 2005). Therefore, using gesture as well as body language is been used by me to
convey the information.
Active or sensitive listening
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Along with this, another intervention that is used by paramedic for overcoming the
identified potential barrier includes active or sensitive listening. It might include engaging in
listening activities without interrupting or turning off the patient. While rendering services of
paramedic I must engage in active listening to patient so that I can easily inform and convey
regarding the accident to her family members. Along with this, enabling proper listening and
communication with the patient would also ensure them to be in the conscious state so that while
reaching the hospital they may easily get operated and treated.
Apply principles of person-centered care
In addition to this, to improve or overcome the communication barrier as paramedic I
must focuses on application of different principles and aspects related with person-centered care
and approaches. It mainly consider that paramedic must use effective and proper tone or pitch of
voice to communicate with the service user or patient so that they may easily understand the
information and knowledge that is conveyed by the paramedic.
Along with this there are some other ways that must be used by me so that I can easily
overcome the identified communication barrier within the case scenario it mainly include using
gestures or required language that suited the audience or patient. From assessing the case
scenario it has been stated that old lady met with an accident have hearing impairment therefore,
in this case I must face certain barrier related with communication of the medication. For
overcoming the communication barrier I must use the effective gesture and language that is
easily understood by the patient so that it may not confused them. Along with this, it is also
stated that with using the different language that is not understood by patient in that case it may
results in distorting the words by listener.
In addition to this, another intervention for overcoming the identified barrier is through
selecting the correct medium or channel of communication (Curtis, 2012). With the help of
selecting an effective medium of communication as paramedic I must easily communicate the
information to patient. But from the example it has been assessed that patient have hearing
impairment therefore, such communication channel is been used that support me in conveying
the medication statement to them. Along with this, I must also focus on proving them proper
technological aid that support in overcoming the hearing impairment.
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CONCLUSION
Through summing up the essay it has been stated that in order to give an emergent and
accurate assessment to patient paramedic plays significant role that engage in delivering the
emergency services out-of-hospital environment that is on the ambulance. Along with this, the
essay also focuses on determining the key knowledge, attitude as well as essential skills that is
required by paramedic staff for effectively communicating with the patient to whom they are
delivering emergent health care services.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Curtis, L. A., 2012. Unit costs of health and social care 2012. Personal Social Services Research
Unit.
Ewles, L. and Simnett, I., 2003. Promoting health: a practical guide. London: Baillière
Tindall.O'Malley, A. S., Cohen, G. R. and Grossman, J. M., 2010. Electronic medical records
and communication with patients and other clinicians: are we talking less?. Issue brief (Center
for Studying Health System Change). pp.131.
Rabiee, P., Sloper, P. and Beresford, B., 2005. Desired outcomes for children and young people
with complex health care needs, and children who do not use speech for communication. Health
& social care in the community. 13(5). pp.478-487.
Scott, T. L., Gazmararian, J. A. and Baker, D. W., 2002. Health literacy and preventive health
care use among Medicare enrollees in a managed care organization. Medical care. 40(5). pp.395-
404.
Street, R. L. and Epstein, R. M., 2009. How does communication heal? Pathways linking
clinician–patient communication to health outcomes. Patient education and counseling. 74(3).
pp.295-301.
Online
Edwards, R. and et.al., 2012. Communication strategies in acute health care: evaluation within
the context of infection prevention and control. [Pdf]. Available through:
<https://www1.imperial.ac.uk/resources/E2909E9F-90E0-423D-9824-63B0259AFA6D/
edwardsetaljhi.pdf>. [Accessed on 30th January 2017].
Goldbart, J. and Caton, S., 2010. Communication and people with the most complex needs:
What works and why this is essential. [Pdf]. Available through:
<https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2010-12/Comms_guide_dec_10
.pdf>. [Accessed on 30th January 2017].
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