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A patient in the waiting room approaches a MA and states, "I've been waiting 30 minutes to see my doctor. Can't you do something?" Which of the following responses by the MA is an example of active listening?

1) "you sound frustrated about how long you've been waiting"
2) "you won't have to wait much longer. I promise"
3) "you don't want to leave and miss your appt, do you?"
4)"maybe you should file a complaint and reschedule the appt"

User Megri
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The best response demonstrating active listening to a patient's concern about wait times is to acknowledge their frustration. Active listening and evidence-based problem-solving strategies are crucial in healthcare and related contexts, such as addressing long mental health service wait times in college settings.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response that illustrates active listening when dealing with patient concerns about waiting times is option 1, which says, "You sound frustrated about how long you've been waiting." Active listening involves acknowledging the patient's feelings and showing empathy, which is effectively demonstrated in this response. The other options either make promises that may not be kept (option 2), present a rhetorical question that may make the patient feel dismissed (option 3), or suggest a formal complaint which may not address the immediate concern (option 4).

Regarding the evidence provided about waiting times and patient experiences, the concept of active listening also applies in larger contexts such as dealing with issues of mental health wait times on college campuses. In this scenario, evidence-based reasoning strategies from works like Reasoning Strategies: Improving Critical Thinking suggest that pointing out the problem - which in this case is long wait times - and suggesting potential solutions, is a good approach to support a position. The evidence includes counselor statements on wait periods, student surveys indicating widespread mental health issues, and staff-to-student ratios compared to international standards.

User Yebach
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