Improving patient communication

Dr. Liza Leal
Board-certified pain management specialist

Dr. Liza Leal is a board-certified pain management specialist who treats patients with cancer. She is also a patient who has been living with chronic pain since the age of 25.

As a healthcare professional, she understands the demands placed upon physicians and encourages doctors to make office visits more productive by improving patient-physician communication. When treating patients with cancer who experience breakthrough pain (BTP), the dialogue between you and the patient is especially important since the treatments you choose are often based on the information the patient provides.

Dr. Leal recommends 3 ways to achieve clearer, more concise communication with your patients:

• Find a common language: Explain pain terminology to your patients so they understand that chronic pain often has 2 components: persistent pain and BTP
• Ask questions and listen: What your patient tells you may give you insight into a better treatment approach
• Empower your patients: Share tools and literature with your patients so you can work together toward better pain management