Habits of the Highly Respectful Physician

April 6, 2011

Slightly altering Dr Michael W. Kahn’s article for hospital-based physicians, “Etiquette-Based Medicine,”¹ for the outpatient setting helps me develop rapport with patients:

•If the patient is new to you, introduce yourself.

•Wash your hands in front of the patient to reassure that he or she is not going to catch something from the previous patient.

•Shake hands.

•Sit down.

•Smile.

•Ask about the patient’s life.

•Listen attentively.

— John Machata, MD
North Kingstown, RI

by Michael Moses | April 15, 2011 9:44 PM EDT

Add this to the list.
Even if you don't need to, still examine the patient.

by Kimberly Spering | April 15, 2011 7:38 PM EDT

Well said.

I'd add, "Make eye contact." SO many of my patients say that their former providers stared at a chart or EMR and did not LOOK at them. Several of them commented that their providers didn't even TOUCH them. (???)

I keep notes about the personal side of patients and review them prior to follow-up visits. Simple things that take a few seconds...make all the difference.