Advanced Communications Skills Training, Spring 2025 - Compton Care Staff Member Feedback

I found the communications course to be incredibly valuable and insightful and it allowed me to take a deeper look into how I converse with not only patients but my own colleagues.

Prior to the course, I was pretty confident that my communication style and techniques I was using were a good standard, that was until I had two days with the team. Having a good understanding of the underlying theory and building on basics made me view communication on a whole new level. Never have I had a greater insight into how I could improve so much than after doing this course!

The training provided me with practical tools that, in just a few weeks, have already enhanced my ability to engage in more effective, empathetic and clear communication. An example; the power of the pause! I have gone from feeling awkward and needing to fill the silence, to having more open conversations than ever before. This is allowing my patients to really feel heard and for me to gain an abundance of information I may not have been able to gather from even open questions. This has lead to better consultations and as a result, enhanced level of care and satisfaction.

I have gone from a consultation of just fact finding and goal orientated, to just being present and I am already seeing how impactful that can be. In a health system that is notoriously bound to time limited consultations, I am now able to offer time and understanding; two absolutely crucial aspects of not only medical care, but enhancing my own standards of simple humanity.

Learning to actively listen and respond appropriately has also shown my patients how much empathy I can have. The slight changes in tone and even positioning to the patient has allowed me to give a better experience and show the level of care I have for them.

Going forward, I am confident that I can develop and grow these additional skills and continue to use it to foster a positive healthcare experience that our patients associate with the level of care that is expected at Compton.