How to build a good rapport with a patient

A person will judge you within the first 15 seconds of coming into contact with you. The same goes when dealing with a patient. So how does an EMT build a good rapport with a patient?

• Make a good first impression is always important. This includes dental, hygiene, weight, cleanliness of clothes and more. How would you feel if the EMT or Firefighter that was helping you was obese, clothing didn’t fit right, breath smelled bad, and hair was not combed?
• Introduce yourself and your partner
• Assure the patient that your there to help
• Get permission from the patient before touching the patient or taking vitals
• Ask open ended question if patient rejects assistance
• Speak clearly, calmly, and slowly
• Use a professional tone of voice
• Respect privacy
• Limit interruptions
• Use good body language
• Be courteous 
• Actively listen to the patient

How an EMT can make communication adjustments

The saying goes different strokes for different folks. Communication between an EMT and patient may not always work. This is why it is important to be able to think on your toes and try different ways of communication.

Problems may arise if the patient is a child, deaf, blind, violent, under the influence of alcohol, under the influence of narcotics, has family involved, or there are mental health challenges involved. What if the patient is deaf and blind?

EMT Refresher – What can influence communication between an EMT and a patient

There are many things that can influence the communication between and EMT and a patient. A patient may not speak English. Body language can be perceived differently depending on what culture you are dealing with. A patient may not be able to hear at all. A patient may be mute.

This is why it is important to be flexible with your communication style. It’s always best to let the patient communicate in a way they are comfortable. Be sure to adapt to their way of communicating. An EMT would not talk to a child the same way they would talk to an adult.

There may be times when an EMT has to deal with a hostile patient. This may be due to alcohol, drugs, psychological issues and behavioral issues. The EMT will have to take a more cautious yet professional demeanor with the patient.

EMT Training: Communicating with patients

Communication actually happens in three parts. There is Encoding, decoding, and feedback. A message is sent or spoken from the EMT to the patient. The patient will decipher or decode the message and then give feedback.

Body language from an EMT to a patient can say many things. How would you feel if someone folded their arms when they were talking to you? Do you think that a child would feel unsure if you were standing above them while talking to them? Should you ever touch a patient in a comforting way?

One of the most caring scenes that has happened in Fort Worth, Texas was when a Firefighter kissed the temple of an older African American woman. I would assume that this station has had quite a history with this patient for him to be able to do this. It just shows that patients are looking for compassion when an EMT comes to their aid. A soft touch on the shoulder or arm can do wonders. If you are unsure be sure to ask.

It’s also important to either sit, squat, or kneel at the patients level. As always eye contact is important. By doing these things an EMT will not look aggressive to the adult or child patient.

Above all remember how you would feel if the places were switched.

An Emergency Medical Technician comes to a scene and finds out that the patient is deaf. How is the EMT going to communicate with the patient? There are actually several ways that an EMT can communicate with the patient.

An EMT can find someone that knows sign language. Honestly I believe that all EMT’s that go to scenes should know sign language and at least the second largest language spoken in the city that they work in. If the Paramedic works nationally then maybe a fourth language should be learn.

If an EMT is dealing with a deaf patient they can ask the patient if they can read lips, find someone that knows sign language, or use a tablet to communicate with.

EMT Training: Eye Contact

A bit ago the discussion was about the different ways that an EMT can communicate with a patient. This includes touch, sign language, open ended question, closed ended question, and much more. So why is it important to keep eye contact when talking to a patient?

Eye contact relays interest and concern to the patient. Think how you would feel if you were the patient and someone else was the Emergency Medical Technician. Would you think that they cared about what you were saying if they were looking at their patient report tablet the whole time?

Not all patients are the same though? Some patients will shy away from direct eye contact. As I have spoken with several EMT’s, Paramedics, and Firefighters the census is that many mental health patients do not like to keep eye contact with other people. Men and women from Asian cultures usually shy away from direct eye contact. It’s believed that for women to hold eye contact with an Asian male it’s disrespectful to the male. While females will shy away from male and female eye contact.

EMT Training: Get to a corner stat!

Firefighter Chris Tobin recently posted a tweet that discussed strategy for fires. Anyone knows me, knows that I like to take information and figure out how it can help others. If any kind of Police information, Fire Information, or EMS information can not be put to good use then it is worthless to me. In the years that I have worked as an Emergency Medical Respondant, I have only been in one fire. Thankfully it was only a kitchen fire that I had to help someone put out. 

Chris Tobin caused me to think about a scene though. I know that not many EMT or Paramedics will be inside a building while it is burning. Most of the time Firefighters who are trained in search and rescue bring them out of the blaze. What if it were to happen? What if the safety of the patient, team partner, and yourself was to take action and head to the roof. Should EMS stand in the middle the roof for air rescue? Or should people take stand at the corners of the roof.

The lesson learned is that any roof corner where someone can see you is the best place to be. The corners of a roof are structurally stronger in the event of a fire. Corners are also easier to get equipment up to those who are trapped on a roof because there are now two sides of escape.

It's not likely that an EMT, Paramedic, or EMS team would get trapped on a roof. Now we all have a little bit of EMS information to store away just in case.

Becoming A Paramedic Topics

Hi! Welcome to Becoming a Paramedic! This is a site about my life and how I am becoming a Paramedic. It is my goal to share the dark and the light of EMS. I want to share the funny stories between EMS, Firefighters, and Police. I hope to share topics that will make future Paramedics think and share insight on the topic.

The life of a Paramedic can be rough. We have seen this on Youtube and the other reality television shows on the major networks. The life of EMS is what you make it. It is my hope that my readers learn to enjoy what they do and become a productive member of the Emergency Medical System.

Some of the topics that I will be covering is:
Health
EMT Training
Paramedic Training
Avoiding LODD Line Of Duty Deaths
Career Advice for all public servants 
That horrible demon PTSD

So I hope that you enjoy reading Becoming A Paramedic