PA Kenneth Korber discusses highlights from his talk, The Art of Patient-Centered Communication, at the 6th Annual Elevate-Derm Alliance Fall Conference at the JW Marriott Water Street in Tampa, Florida.

In this video

Korber frames trust as "foundational" to a relationship that is often long-term, arguing that clinicians need to know where patients are at — what makes them nervous, what makes them feel good — and fold that into the treatment plan as they go along on the patient's journey of getting well. He points out that the typical adult patient has a sixth-grade health literacy level, so providers should translate the long Latin terms they were proud to learn in school into language a patient can actually understand, because comprehension drives compliance.

On the reality of busy clinics, he notes that whenever he asks an audience whether they feel they have enough time with patients, "no one raises their hand," since systems measure productivity above all. Rather than seeming rushed or skipping the education piece, he encourages ways to extend the office visit beyond the office setting so patients stay engaged. His top strategies: use "plain talk" and cut four-syllable words down to one or two, have patients "teach back" what they understood, and build branded, patient-centric education materials the practice can reference later.

  • Trust is foundational — learn what makes patients nervous or comfortable and build that into a long-term, empowering treatment plan.
  • Remember the typical adult reads at a sixth-grade health literacy level; translate medical terminology as if speaking to an 11- to 13-year-old, because understanding drives compliance.
  • In pediatrics you're really communicating with the parents and relying on them to translate the plan to the child.
  • Use "plain talk," swap multi-syllable jargon for simple words ("I listened to your belly and heard your stomach rumbling"), and confirm understanding with teach-back.
  • Find ways to extend the visit beyond the exam room — branded, patient-centric brochures and education materials patients can revisit at home.