Patient and practitioner relationships

As registered practitioners, building trust with patients and working closely with our teams helps us deliver better care. By showing respect, communicating clearly and using the latest evidence, we help patients feel informed and involved – which leads to improved outcomes.

The Code of Conductopen_in_new sets out the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia's expectations about professional behaviour and conduct for registered health practitioners. In the context of the practitioner-patient relationship, we have a duty to put the care of patients first.

We must display a high standard of professional behaviour that builds the trust and respect of the community. This includes practising ethically and honestly. These values are demonstrated by Chinese medicine practitioners across NSW every day, contributing to the trust placed in our profession.

As Chinese medicine practitioners we help patients from a variety of backgrounds, religions and cultures. It's important we recognise and respect this diversity in every interaction. There is also a need to consider the specific care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples – by fostering open, honest and culturally safe professional relationships.

Culturally safe practice starts with understanding how our own culture, values, attitudes and beliefs influence our interactions. When we reflect on these influences, we’re better able to connect with patients respectfully and meet our responsibilities around privacy and confidentiality – including online.

Clear and respectful communication helps build trust and avoid misunderstandings. This means:

• listening to patients, asking for and respecting their views about their health
• responding to their concerns and preferences
• sharing information about all aspects of their clinical management, including examination and investigations
• giving them time to ask questions or say no to treatment
• checking they understand what you have explained
• answering their questions clearly
• keeping them informed and updated about their clinical progress.