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Doctor–Patient Communication according to the Heidelberg Standard

Preliminary registration for our simulation-based courses: 
Please be informed that seats are limited, so the sooner you sign up, the more secure your seat will be. Furthermore, the registration of higher-year students is prioritized. 

Doctor–Patient Communication according to the Heidelberg Standard
together with the Heidelberg University

  • Recommended for 3-5th year students in the English and Hungarian Medicine programmes. 
  • 2 credits, 90 minutes/week
  • Schedule and location: weeks 1-14
    – Thursday 17:00-18:30, 1st lesson: 10 September, 2026 
    – City Corner Buidging, Room 320 (3rd floor, Üllői út 25.) 

The course Doctor–Patient Communication according to the Heidelberg Standard was developed in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University and continues to be conducted jointly. It is based on authentic simulations of clinical communication situations.
The aim of the course is to provide students with the fundamentals of doctor–patient communication (B2–C1 level). The course is built around authentic professional communication situations and specialized medical texts.

Competencies acquired through completion of course:
After successfully completing the module, students will be able to:

  • Conduct structured and goal-oriented doctor–patient conversations in a clinical context.
  • Take complete medical history using appropriate questioning techniques.
  • Use medical terminology appropriately and translate it into language understandable to patients.
  • Explain diagnostic findings and laboratory results in a clear manner.
  • Conduct patient information and consultation conversations in a patient-centered manner.
  • Present treatment options transparently and make decisions jointly with patients.
  • Prepare medical documentation, especially discharge summaries, with linguistic precision.
  • Manage intercultural communication situations professionally and reflectively.
  • Critically analyze and improve their own communication patterns.

Students will also be able to:

  1. Conduct structured medical history interviews.
  2. Explain diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using understandable terms.
  3. Take patients’ emotional reactions into account.
  4. Apply patient-centered communication strategies.
  5. Reflect on their role as medical professionals.
  6. Consider ethical and legal aspects of patient information.
  7. Act in a culturally sensitive manner in clinical contexts.
  8. Document medical information in a structured way.
  9. Write discharge summaries according to clinical standards.

Syllabus: 

  1. Introduction, personal information, review of prior knowledge on the topic
    Skill: Requesting and collecting basic information
  1. Questioning techniques in medical communication
    Skill: Using different question types
  1. Structured medical history taking
    Patient-centered exploration; fundaments of medical history taking
    Skill: Taking the medical history and analyzing a medical history questionnaire/form.
  1. Systematic exploration of the current complaints
    Skill: Taking general medical history
  1. Patient medical history
    Skill: Informing patients and formulating instructions
  1. Family and social history
    Skill: Identifying genetic risks and social health factors
  1. Patient information – legal and ethical foundations
    Skill: Understanding the physician’s duty to inform patients
  1. Risk communication and therapeutic options
    Skill: Presenting potential risks
  1. Medical documentation: the discharge summary
    Skill: Analysis of structure and content
  1. Advanced medical documentation
    Skill: Structured presentation of clinical information
  1. Communication of findings and laboratory results
    Skill: Interpretation of common laboratory parameters and medical abbreviations
  1. Shared decision-making
    Skill: Including patient preferences
  1. Intercultural communication in clinical contexts
    Skill: Handling cultural misunderstandings
  1. Conclusion and competency assessment

Requirements:
A maximum of seven absences (7×45 minutes) is permitted. In the case of more than seven justified absences, students may make up the missed material by completing an assignment agreed upon with the course instructor (only once). Students who miss more than 25% of the seminars cannot receive course certification (signature).

Instructors: 
Dr. Katalin Fogarasi
Anita Hank