Effective Medical Communication
An anthology of columns
by
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Laying the groundwork To novices, public speaking may be a scary situation. Sometimes it is also scary for experienced professional speakers. But with a little thought and logic, the task may be lightened a little. This is not an essay on how to write a speech, but rather on what you should be doing or thinking before you even begin writing. I offer five suggestions to lead you into your speech: 1. Your first job is to figure out why you were asked to give this speech. Why were you tapped and not someone else? Why were you chosen to speak on this topic? The answers will give you an idea of what you want to say. Will you be a solo speaker or part of a panel or symposium? If you know why they asked you and what they expect you to talk about, it will crystallize your thoughts into a viable speech. One word of caution: When you’ve examined these questions, if you do not feel fully qualified to cover the subject, don’t accept the engagement. It would be better to say “No thanks” than to embarrass yourself. Declining a speaking request is not rude or insulting. 2. Decide on the theme of your talk, and start to think about the important points you want to emphasize. Determining the amount of information to include in your speech is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. What’s your message to be? Jot down your thoughts, and fill them in later. The late John W. Hope, MD, a world-renowned radiologist and speaker, once said, “If you can get across one good idea an hour, your speech will be successful.” Maybe you’ll need to go to the library at this point. 3. Start to analyze the “trimmings” you might want to use in your speech. “Trimmings” are the things you add to the factual parts of your speech to make it more listenable and more attractive. Think of an interesting or entertaining opening that will entice your audience to listen. Think of a strong closing that will cement your talk into a solid unit to remember. Think about what humor you might inject into your speech to make it warmer and more acceptable. 4. Begin thinking about your visuals. Does this talk call for visual aids, such as slides, a PowerPoint presentation, or other eye-catching media? What points do you want to illustrate? Write out what you want to convey with your visuals. 5. So you don’t forget at the last minute, make a list of the things you want to take with you. This list may include a copy of your speech or an outline; your visual aids; your laptop computer (if needed); the names of people you may need to remember; and a written description of your credentials, which you may need to give to the program chairman. These guidelines are preludes to writing a speech. Remember that good preparation is the most important ingredient in ensuring a successful talk. Good luck!
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About the Book
Effective Medical Communication shares the insights of pediatrician Arnold Melnick, DO, a columnist for The DO, the news and feature magazine of the American Osteopathic Association. A collection of six years’ worth of Dr. Melnick’s columns, this book offers osteopathic physicians, MDs and other health professionals practical advice for improving their medical writing and medical speaking. Emphasizing the importance of communicating well with patients, this anthology provides many helpful suggestions on using and recognizing body language, asking the right questions, training office personnel and interacting with patients via telephone. Organized into sections titled “Medical Writing,” “Medical Speaking” and “Patient Communication,” Effective Medical Communication is written in an easygoing, colloquial style, ideal for browsing here and there according to a reader’s interest or for cover-to-cover reading.