How to Conduct the Patient Interview. Communicating successfully with patients requires strategy, flexibility and...

As community paramedicine and other nonemergent initiatives become commonplace in EMS, caregivers are going to need communication skills that go beyond SAMPLE checklists. A minimalist approach to dialogue with patients, considered preferred if not essential in what was once almost exclusively a light-and-sirens environment, isn't acceptable when prehospital interventions require a thorough understanding not only of chief complaints, but also how the physical part of illness and injury is framed by the patient's environment. Be considerate, be as thorough as time permits, and pay attention! Next time we'll talk about interviewing prospective employees.