By Dr. Christopher Brown
This post will discuss how healthcare providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants or others) support their patients when talking about family health history. This post also will encourage patients to clearly share and discuss their family health history with their healthcare providers to improve overall health.
Discussing Family Health History is Part of the Trusting Healthcare Relationship. The “patient encounter” is rooted in the relationship between a healthcare provider and the patient. The patient is the central member of the healthcare team comprising of a variety of providers, nurses, technicians and other members. One of the cornerstones of this relationship is trust. As part of a larger ethical code within medicine, each healthcare provider has a responsibility to place a patient’s health and wellbeing above any self-interest. In doing so, healthcare providers can fully advocate on behalf of their patients. Transparent, two-way communication is critical for this relationship to be built and maintained. Healthcare providers should be open, encouraging and thorough so that the patient feels welcome to openly discuss concerns, symptoms or issues that he or she otherwise may not feel comfortable sharing. These details include may components within the patient encounter, including family history.
It is very important that the provider-patient relationship is built on trust. Without trust, a patient may not feel encouraged to ask questions regarding his or her health, health risks and impacts on their life. One of the primary jobs of a healthcare provider is to educate patients on their health and risk of disease and without trust or effective communication this is not possible. If a patient does not feel that there is a trusting relationship, it may be the direct result of a miscommunication or misunderstanding and there are many ways to alleviate this. An open discussion with his or her provider should be the next step, but additional steps and speaking to other members of the healthcare team is also appropriate. Ultimately, healthcare providers piece together all the information a patient shares to understand how they can best advocate for their patient. The patient-provider relationship should be based on open communication and honesty. All members of the healthcare team have a professional responsibility to advocate for their patients. A strong patient-provider relationship will allow the healthcare provider to educate the patient and coordinate his or her care from a variety of resources.
What to Expect When it Comes to Family Health History in the Healthcare Setting. The family health history, along with other health information provides crucial details that help inform the physician of how to best support the patient. The family health history allows the healthcare provider to understand pieces of a larger puzzle and may change medical recommendations. For example, a family health history for specific cancers may identify risk factors for which earlier screening, such as colonoscopies or mammograms, should be performed to avoid development of diseases faced by other family members. The provider will use this information to provide helpful resources, coordinate tests, or specialist follow-up.
Asking questions to a healthcare provider about a family health history is a great way for provider and patients to make the best decision for the patient’s health and well-being. Talking about family health history can not only help health today, but can also prevent future health issues. So, don’t wait…talk to your healthcare provider about your family health history early and often!
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