Patient Experience Tip o' the Month - June 2023

This month’s tip comes from Smith’s Patient Centered Interviewing, An Evidence-Based Approach, 3rd Edition. In my feedback to clinicians, I often say that improving our patients’ experience results in more joy in our practice. I don’t remember where exactly I learned that, but it was long after medical school and residency. This quote adds more depth and context to that statement.

“Clinicians also benefit from a biopsychosocial/patient centered-approach. They report that the approach allows them to more fully embody such human qualities as respect, empathy, humility, and sensitivity. Because these qualities seemed less valued during their training, physicians of the past often felt guilty in expressing them if they were ever observed doing so, asking colleagues to “not tell anyone.” The idea of developing meaningful relationships and feelings of connectedness with patients, which was discouraged until the latter part of the 20th century, has now been shown to have a variety of positive benefits for patients and clinicians both.”

[Editor's note: The Patient Experience Tip o' the Month will now start appearing here in STAT News, rather than be emailed separately. ICYMI, above is the last emailed Tip from June.]