patient-communication

# Patient Communication Skill Writes patient-facing healthcare communications in plain, accessible language — targeting UK Grade 6 / US Grade 8 reading level. WARNING: All patient communications must be reviewed and approved by a qualified healthcare professional before sending. This skill produces drafts only. ## Required Inputs - **Communication type** (appointment letter / results letter / discharge info / patient leaflet / consent info / health education) - **Clinical context** - **Key messages** (what the patient must understand and do) - **Tone** (reassuring / informative / urgent) - **Specific instructions or next steps** - **Contact details for queries** ## Output Structure ### Type A: Patient Letter [Date] Dear [Patient name], **Re: [Clear subject line in bold]** [Opening paragraph: State clearly what this letter is about. No preamble.] [Main content — short paragraphs, 2-3 sentences each. Bullet points for instructions. Bold anything the patient must do or remember.] **What happens next:** - [Action 1 — specific with timeframe] - [Action 2] **If you have questions:** Contact us at [phone] between [hours] or email [address]. If you feel unwell before your appointment, please [specific instruction]. Yours sincerely, [Name, Title, Department] --- ### Type B: Patient Information Leaflet **[Plain language title]** **What is [topic]?** [2-3 plain English sentences. Explain technical terms immediately.] **Why has this been recommended for me?** [Personalised clinical reason in patient terms] **What will happen?** [Numbered step by step] **What are the benefits?** [Honest statement] **What are the risks?** [Common first, then rare but serious. Use frequencies: "About 1 in 10 people..." not "10% incidence"] **What should I do to prepare?** [Specific instructions] **When should I contact someone?** [Specific signs — not vague. "Temperature above 38C" not "if you feel unwell"] --- ### Type C: Test Results Letter **Your [test name] results — [Normal / Abnormal] — stated in the FIRST sentence, never paragraph 3.** [What this means in plain English] **What happens next:** [Clear next steps. If no action, say so explicitly.] --- ## Plain Language Rules (apply to all types) - Maximum 2 syllables per word where possible - Maximum 20 words per sentence - Active voice: "We will contact you" not "You will be contacted" - Spell out all acronyms on first use - No Latin: "twice daily" not "bd" - Use "you" and "we" throughout - Numbers as digits: "2 tablets" not "two tablets" ## Quality Checks - [ ] Written at or below Grade 8 reading level (short words, short sentences) - [ ] Active voice used throughout ("We will contact you" not "You will be contacted") - [ ] Results letter states the result in the first sentence - [ ] Next steps are specific and include timeframes - [ ] No Latin or acronyms without explanation - [ ] Disclaimer that clinical review is required before sending ## Anti-Patterns - [ ] Do not use medical jargon without a plain-English explanation — write for the patient, not the clinician - [ ] Do not omit a clear "next steps" section — patients must know exactly what to do after reading - [ ] Do not produce final content without flagging that clinical review is required before sending - [ ] Do not write above a Grade 8 reading level without a compelling reason — accessibility is the default - [ ] Do not include Latin abbreviations (e.g. "p.r.n.", "b.d.") without spelling them out — they are not universally understood ## Example Trigger Phrases - "Write a patient letter about [topic]" - "Create a patient information leaflet for [procedure]" - "Write a plain English results letter for [test]"