Throughout the semester, in this course and through the experiences I have had in the clinic, it has become exceedingly clearer that communication skills are equally if not more important to a healthcare worker than the education received. It is inherent in our human nature to trust those who treat us with kindness and understanding. It is for this reason that communication skills are as vital to effective care as clinical skills in medical practice. Balancing these two key components of healthcare is becoming more difficult every day in our community as healthcare is advancing and patient demographics are diversifying dramatically. This tension in the field shows great opportunity for growth as a field, but it also opens the door for patients to slip through the cracks due to language, cultural, or educational barriers. Healthcare providers, especially optometrists, are being forced to adapt their practice models to accommodate this change. Best practice models are changing and communication is the foundation that enables this change. Optometry is unique when compared to a field such as general medicine; as a field, optometry is relatively new to many people. The importance of optometry has gone beyond simply helping patients see better, but has focused on maintaining eye health and screening for many other health conditions. As its importance is becoming more understood and known by the general public, the number of patients seeking treatment is growing dramatically. As stated previously, this drastic growth is not only increasing the number of patients, but also the number of locations where optometry is practiced, as well as changing the demographics of patients seen… middle of paper… the better care for all patients. Personal Reflection As a future optometrist, I hope to achieve the best practice with each patient and I believe that the main purpose of learning to communicate with patients is to be able to achieve that goal. While I agree with what Grol and Grimshaw said about the importance of ongoing education and finding effective and efficient ways to integrate new techniques into our practices, I still believe that the most important aspect of best practice is communication with the patient. As I stated above, I would like to return to Minnesota to practice and this assignment has made it clear to me that it is very important to leave school with the necessary clinical skills and knowledge but without learning how to communicate with diverse populations of people I know. I will not be as successful as I would like to be as an optometrist.