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]

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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"]

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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.]

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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]"