Overcoming the curse of knowledge: Why doctors need to translate medicine

Communications consultant and attorney Heather Hansen discusses her article, "Why every doctor needs a translator." Drawing on her background as a medical malpractice defense attorney, she explains the "curse of knowledge," where physicians, once expert, find it difficult to imagine not knowing complex medical information, leading to communication barriers with patients. Heather argues that doctors must become effective "translators" of medical jargon into plain language, noting that research found only two percent of sample orthopedic patient materials met sixth-grade readability standards. She presents a three-step process for physicians to overcome this challenge: Be Curious (actively ask patients what they understand, not just if, and involve staff), Be Compassionate (use curiosity to truly see from the patient's perspective, recognizing clear communication is kind), and Build Credibility (explain the 'why' behind instructions clearly to foster trust and belief). Heather contends that mastering this "translation" skill improves patient outcomes, strengthens relationships, reduces legal risk, and can even lessen physician burnout. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare–and it's built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended