Medical Assistant Interpersonal Relations

Interpersonal communication differs from other forms of communication in that there are few participants involved, the interactions are in close physical proximity to each other, there are many sensory channels used and feedback is immediate.

The medical assistant's commitment to understanding this concept of seeing the individual as a person is the key to creating good interpersonal relationships. Simply stated, their interpersonal relationships are the result of how medical assistants regard and respond to people. Many elements influence the development of that regard and those responses. In the paragraphs that follow, some of these elements will be discussed as they apply to their involvement in health care and patients.

Knowledge, empathy and mature judgment should guide the care provided to any patient. This is especially crucial when the care involves touching. As a member of the health care team, medical assistants are responsible for providing complete, quality care to those who need and seek their service. This care must also be provided in a manner compatible with their technical capabilities.

THE OPPOSITE SEX
In today's modern society, medical assistants will encounter many situations where they are responsible for the care and treatment of patients of the opposite sex. When medical assistants treat patients of the opposite sex, they must always conduct themselves in a professional manner. There are specific guidelines when it comes to care and treat patients of the opposite sex to ensure the professional conduct is not called into question:

A standby should be present when a medical assistant is in the treatment or examination room rendering care to a member of the opposite sex. Whether this standby is a member of the same sex as the patient may be dictated by the availability of personnel. (Likewise, a medical assistant will be asked by the physician to stand by during a breast or vaginal exam, if the physician is a male.)

Examinations of patients of the opposite sex should be performed in the presence of a chaperon, if the patient expresses any discomfort. For example, if the doctor who performs a pelvic or breast exam on a female patient is a man, a female chaperon, such as a female medical assistant should be present in the examination room during the exam. If the doctor who performs a urogenital procedure on a male patient is a woman, a chaperon, preferably a male medical assistant should be present in the examination room.

ETHIC BACKGROUND
It is both the moral and legal responsibility of the medical assistant to render services with respect for the life and human dignity of the individual without regard to skin color, creed, gender, political views, or social status. Racial identification has the potential to create a negative environment in the health care setting. When this is permitted to occur, an environment that feeds a multitude of social illnesses and destructive behaviors develops.

In a medical office or clinic, no expressions or actions based on prejudicial attitudes should ever occur. However, when obtaining information related to heritage and ethnic background it can be an asset to the medical assistant in assessing the patient's needs, since certain groups of individuals may share traits that make them prone to certain illnesses. Information identifying ethnic affiliation can be very useful when carrying out direct-care activities, and planning and implementing patient education programs.

CULTURE
Because of the multi-and cross cultural nature of this society, and consequently of a medical office or clinic, medical assistants will frequently encounter members of various cultures. Culture is defined as a group of socially learned, shared standards (norms) and behavior patterns. Concepts such as perceptions, values, beliefs, and goals are examples of shared norms. In addition, apparel, eating habits, and personal hygiene reflect common behavior patterns of specific groups of people.

An understanding of common norms and behavior patterns enhances the quality and often the quantity of service a provider is able to make available. An individual's cultural background has an effect on every area of health care service, ranging from a simple technical procedure to the content and effectiveness of health education activities. Becoming familiar with the beliefs and practices of different cultural and subcultural groups is not only enriching to the medical assistant, but also promotes an understanding and acceptance of the various peoples in the world community.

A large majority of people have some form of belief system that guides many of their life decisions and to which they turn to in times of distress. A person's religious beliefs frequently help give meaning to suffering and illness; those beliefs may also be helpful in the acceptance of future incapacities or death.

Medical assistants must accept the religious or nonreligious beliefs of others as valid for them, even if medical assistants personally disagree with such beliefs. Although medical assistants may offer religious support when asked and should always provide chaplain referrals when requested or indicated, it is not ethical for medical assistants to abuse their patients by forcing their beliefs (or nonbeliefs) upon them. Medical assistants must respect their freedom of choice, offering their support for whatever a patient's needs, beliefs, or desires may be.

The age of the patient must be considered in performance of patient care. Medical assistants will be responsible for the care of infants, children, adults, and the elderly. Communication techniques and patient handling may need to be modified because of the age of the patient.

Infants can communicate their feelings in a variety of positive and negative ways, and they exhibit their needs by crying, kicking, or grabbing at the affected area of pain. An infant, however, usually responds positively to cuddling, rocking, touching, and soothing sounds.

Children need emotional support and display the same feelings an adult would have when afraid, angry, worried, and so on. It is also important to realize that children may display behavior typical for an earlier age; for example, when afraid, a child who has been toilet trained may soil himself. This is not unusual and parents should be informed that this behavior change is accidental and triggered by their emotion of fear and upset.

While a child is under the medical assistant s care in the treatment area, they are a parent substitute and must gain the child's confidence and trust. Offer explanations of what medical assistants are going to do in ways the child will understand. The content that a 2-year-old will comprehend obviously differs from that of an 11-year-old, but every child understands.

It is important to keep in mind that easing transition makes a child's life so much more pleasant for them. It may not seem like much to an adult, but it could be earth shattering for a child if taken from one situation abruptly to the next. Children are more likely to feel comfortable no matter where they are if they can carry something they are familiar with, something soothing, whether it is a blanket, a pillow, a stuffed animal or a book. A familiar object will provide a child with the reassurance needed while visiting a strange and new environment. Once in the treatment room, the child will react to the medical assistant's actions, reactions, and responses. Maintaining your confidence will again reassure child that everything is going to be okay.

In taking care of the elderly patient, the medical assistant must be alert to the patient's mental and physical capabilities such as physical coordination, mental orientation, reduced eyesight. Medical care is at its best if it is modified to accommodate the individual patient. Whether young or old, a patient deserves genuine respect and warmth, and when dealing with the elderly it is more than appropriate not to use terms like "grandpa" or "granny."

Older patients deserve the opportunity to control as many aspects of their self-care as possible. Allowing patients to self-pace their own care may take more time, but it will result in reducing their feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment. Listen to patients and allow them to reminisce if they wish to. The conversation can be used as a vehicle to bring today's events into focus for the patient. Remember to involve family members, as needed, into the patient education process. Some of their elderly patients will require assistance from family members for their medical needs once they are back home.

Relationships