Abstract:

The role of general practitioners (GP) in the Polish public healthcare system is key as, on the basis of an initial diagnosis, they refer patients to medical specialists, thus influencing the patient’s subsequent treatment path as well as influencing overall management of healthcare institutions. Their initial diagnosis, whether right or wrong, results not only from their professional medical knowledge, but also from their communication skills and has a real impact on shaping the management of healthcare institutions.

It should be noted that the basis for a diagnosis is, among others, the patient interview, which should be carried out properly. If the GP creates an atmosphere of trust and actively listens to the patient, i.e. demonstrates excellent communication skills, they have a chance to collect true, important information concerning the patient’s health, and therefore to establish the right initial diagnosis and to refer the patient to the relevant specialist. Otherwise, if the GP does not demonstrate highly-developed communication skills, patients may hide certain important medical information or even lie out of stress or shame. This in turn means that the GP, by making the wrong initial diagnosis, may refer the patient to another specialist, which will not harm the patient, but may create unnecessary stress, plus from the managerial point of view it may generate unnecessary costs for the public healthcare system, i.e. for the taxpayers.

The aim of the article is to present the condition of the medical education system with regard to the skill of communicating with patients, as well as to stress the importance of that skill for efficient management of healthcare organisations in Poland. Therefore, desk research was performed by examining the Polish curriculum for general practitioners in order to find courses and specific requirements relating to communication with patients. Conclusions from the study have led to formulating specific recommendations which may be useful to decision-makers with regard to medical personnel’s lifelong learning, as well as to directors of healthcare organisations, doctors and anyone interested in healthcare management.

Study financed from sources for academic research or developmental works as well as related tasks, aiming at young researchers and doctoral students development.

Keywords:

Doctors’ lifelong learning, healthcare organisation management, significance of communication between doctor and patient.