Communication Skills

How can a discharge conversation help patients understand what is known, what remains uncertain and when to return? Natalie May outlines an approach to safety netting that combines empathy, clear explanations, expected recovery, warning signs and written advice, with attention to carers and communication with primary care.

How should a clinician respond when a patient wants to record a consultation? Natalie May’s 2014 UK-focused discussion explores discomfort, trust, consent, information recall and the differences between patient-made and clinician-made recordings, drawing on the professional guidance available at the time.

Could a follow-up phone call reduce return visits after a child leaves the emergency department? This 2014 appraisal examines a Canadian study in which callers collected concerns without answering them, questioning allocation methods, outcome measurement and whether reattendance alone can tell us that care was better or worse.

An archived invitation to Victoria Brazil’s Manchester talk on 14 August 2014, ‘Talking, Teaching and Technology’. The post introduces the event and reflects on her presentation skills and educational approach, with a link to her earlier SMACC talk on timing, tribes and STEMIs.

What place should chronic disease risk factors have in emergency decision-making? Simon Carley introduces his SMACC Gold presentation, using that question to explore how clinicians’ assumptions, interpretations and beliefs influence their assessment of patients in the emergency department and resuscitation room.

After being described as intimidating, Sarah Payne reflects on the gap between how she sees herself and how colleagues perceive her. Drawing on her experiences and research on gender stereotypes, she explores the tension between warmth, competence and assertiveness for women working in emergency medicine.