In the wake of a plethora of new books describing the deficiencies of the current healthcare system, Dr. Nimesh H. Patel applies a different and welcome perspective on healthcare. Writing mainly for new physicians and others with patient contact, he emphasizes the need to reach beyond skilled clinical care to develop equally important emotional intelligence (EQ).
Based on his own experiences as an entrepreneur and current neurosurgery section chief and medical director at Dallas’s Methodist Medical Center and Methodist Health System, plus interviews with medical and mental health professionals, malpractice attorneys, professors and hospital administrators, he highlights solutions for improving patient and provider satisfaction, rapport with other physicians, healthcare economics and more. He believes EQ can transform the ordinary physician to an extraordinary one and shares key lessons on attaining EQ-related people skills, especially in challenging situations.
Like a surgeon moving through pre-op to procedure, the author smoothly transitions from pointing out the importance of EQ people skills to sharing tips on attaining self-discovery and EQ. Using anecdotes from his years of practice, he offers practical strategies that demonstrate how empathy, self-awareness, and good communication—including strategic silence—can build trust and alliances. For example, he recalls when a senior attending diffused a distraught parent’s harangue by having the self-awareness to remain calm and not take the incident personally. Seven scenarios reveal better patient communication techniques when dealing with “Dr. Google” or second opinions.
Medical students, interns/residents and new physicians will find the heartfelt and personally revealing book a compelling roadmap for ways to improve emotional intelligence and patient care. Since the need for EQ is universal, however, the book should also appeal to anyone looking for reasoned perspectives on better personal or professional communication.
Also available as an ebook and audio book.