« Competency 4

• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Doctor-patient relationship
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Understand the relationship between the occupational health doctor and the patient
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Maintain an independent position
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Be wary of judgemental and discriminatory behaviour
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Wider relationships in health and employment
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Understand the different roles, of relevant parties
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Deal with employers in an appropriate way
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Be aware of potential difficulties in the relationship
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Understand the role of health professionals in relation to the employee/patient
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Communicate effectively and appropriately
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Develop and maintain respect for the roles of other professionals
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Personal health and safety
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Understand the risk associated with medical practice
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Recognise situations where personal health and safety is at risk or
• Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients:Comply with health and safety legislation

Competency 4 – Maintaining relationship with patients: Communicate effectively and appropriately

Objective: to ensure the appreciation of the professional position of the OH advisor, employer and employees

SKILLS

COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AND APPROPRIATELY (see also Communications Competency 3)

Communication is a core clinical skill that is essential for any good medical practice. Effective communication with other professionals is essential for good healthcare with some of the rudimentary principles listed below:

• Use of active listening skills.
• Use of appropriate language.
• Avoiding breaches of confidentiality.
• Avoiding medico-legally inappropriate communications.

Thus when liaising with another health professional the language is likely to contain appropriate medical terminology.

Care must be taken to maintain confidentiality. It is incorrect to assume that because you are liaising with another health professional that consent is not required.