Building Communication Skills in Dermatology PA Practice

Justin Love, PA, has practiced dermatology for 18 years. In a recent Dermatology Times interview, he discussed why interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence deserve greater attention alongside clinical knowledge, particularly as APPs prepare to navigate difficult conversations with patients.

For Love, developing these skills requires clinicians to listen effectively, recognize when they need to prepare for a conversation, and intentionally create enough time for patients to feel heard.

Developing Emotional Intelligence Beyond Clinical Skills

Love said interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence can receive less attention as clinicians focus on completing their education, passing boards, and securing their desired positions.

Developing knowledge beyond medicine and science, however, is an important part of working as an APP, according to Love. That includes communicating effectively while remaining receptive to what others have to say.

“Being able to communicate effectively, being open to what others have to say as well, is going to be really, really important,” Love said.

“The emotional intelligence aspect of your profession, I think, kind of gets missed or kind of overlooked,” he added.

Preparing for Difficult Patient Conversations

For APPs early in their careers, Love emphasized assessing their own readiness before entering a difficult or high-stakes patient conversation. Using an end-of-life discussion as an example, he recommended developing a framework for the conversation beforehand rather than attempting to improvise in the moment.

“I don't think they should wing it,” Love said. “You're not just walking into a room and discussing topical retinoids for a 13-year-old that has acne.”

Preparation should begin before the patient enters the room, he said, allowing clinicians to understand what they need to communicate and how they plan to approach the discussion.

Creating Time and Space for Patients to Feel Heard

Preparation also extends to scheduling. Love recommended intentionally creating enough space in the schedule for difficult conversations so clinicians do not feel pressured to rush through them.

That may mean setting aside an uninterrupted 20-minute block or allowing a visit to run longer than usual. Love said clinicians should leave sufficient time for questions and answers and ensure patients do not leave feeling rushed because others were waiting.

“It does take some planning. It does take some intentionality,” Love said.

Creating that space can be particularly important when the nature of the conversation warrants more time than a typical patient encounter.

Ultimately, Love said preparation can make difficult conversations easier for both the clinician and patient.

“The more you prepare, the more you plan, it just makes that process much easier because you know going in what this is going to be about,” Love said.