QC
September 14, 2026 | Quebec
An Essential Skill for Providing Quality Support
When we think about the role of a patient service associate or orderly, personal care, assistance, and support for people who need help often come to mind. But another skill is just as essential: communication.
Listening carefully, sharing relevant information, and adapting their communication to each situation help patient service associates provide safe, respectful assistance tailored to each person's needs. Strong communication also supports effective collaboration with healthcare teams.
Adapting Communication to Each Person
Every person receiving support has their own story, habits, needs, and way of communicating.
Patient service associates, therefore, need to adapt their approach to build a relationship based on trust. Clear, respectful, and compassionate communication helps them better understand each person's needs while providing support that respects their dignity and independence.
Taking the time to listen, explain care before providing it, and answer questions can also help reassure the people receiving support and their loved ones.
An Essential Skill for Teamwork
Patient service associates work alongside a variety of professionals throughout the health and social services system.
They communicate with nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, and other members of healthcare teams to help ensure continuity of services.
Sharing relevant observations and information, including changes in a person's condition, helps healthcare teams coordinate their work and provide appropriate support.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need Strong Observation Skills?
Good Communication Means Better Support
Communication is about more than speaking.
It also involves observing, listening actively, showing empathy, and choosing the most appropriate way to communicate based on the situation.
These skills help patient service associates better understand the people they support, encourage their participation, and contribute to their everyday well-being.
Building Communication Skills Throughout the Program
CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program helps students develop the interpersonal and professional skills needed to communicate effectively with the people they support, their loved ones, and healthcare teams.
Through coursework, hands-on learning, and practicums, students learn to adapt their communication to different situations they may encounter within the health and social services system.
This approach helps prepare graduates to provide quality assistance while respecting the people they support and the realities of healthcare environments.
Communicating to Provide Better Support
Communication is an integral part of a patient service associate's work.
Whether supporting someone directly, collaborating with a healthcare team, or sharing an important observation, effective communication contributes to service quality and the well-being of those receiving support.
Developing strong communication skills is, therefore, an important part of preparing to work professionally, respectfully, and compassionately in this field.
Explore Further
👉 Why Patient Service Associates Are in High Demand
👉 Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Adapt to Each Person's Needs?
👉 Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Work as Part of a Team?
