Kids speak: effective communication with the school-aged/adolescent patient.

Caring for school-aged and adolescent children presents unique challenges to the acute healthcare provider. In today's healthcare industry, children should be informed and should participate in the medical decision-making process. Thus, the art of successful school-aged and adolescent communication is vital in today's economically driven market. Practitioners evaluating pediatric patients must immediately establish a rapport and trust--not only with the parents, but also with the child--through effective communication techniques. Effective communication skills and challenges are discussed, along with current research trends to improve patient-provider relations.