On the Brink: Restoring the Patient-Physician Relationship Part II

In our first blog post of the series, On the Brink: Restoring the Patient-Physician Relationship, we established the vital importance of the relationship between the patient and the physician. We identified several barriers throughout our healthcare delivery system that hamper the relationship.

In this post, we explore the soft skill sets that must be exploited to build trust and a bond between the patient and the physician.

• Patients take to the internet to evaluate new physicians and place emphasis on other patients’ interactions with their physicians. Increased financial responsibility of patients require physicians spend more time to explain and justify prescribed treatments and associated costs.
• Burnout of physician has in part lead to decreases in supply, which in turn exacerbate lower physician satisfaction and the loss of “joy” associated with the practice of medicine. Burnout, in part, is caused by the barriers that prevent physicians from investing the time to build relationships with their patients.

There are many documented studies that improved relationships between patient and physician lead to higher patient and physician satisfaction, improved outcomes, and enhanced financial performance. Furthermore, a focused attention to enhancing the relationship is a large contributor to limiting burnout among physicians.

In the broadest sense, relationships are founded on principles of mutual respect and trust. They require open communication with clear meaning and transparency between two parties. Individuals must not pass judgement and must remain understanding and tolerant of differences. Relationships take time to nurture. With the complexities of the US healthcare machine, it is no wonder the patient-physician relationship is on the brink of collapse.

However, hope is not lost. We can right the ship! Remember, a relationship is a two-way street. The patient and the physician have a responsibility to ensure a rapport is established. Owning this responsibility is the first step toward reaffirming the relationship and improving the healthcare delivery system.

We evaluate each party’s perspective in the table below across several different attributes of a strong relationship.

A shared responsibility of mutual respect, accountability, and trust goes a long way to building the relationship between patient and physician. If we can enter this relationship with eyes wide open and focus on nurturing the bond, there is no doubt in our minds that improvements in satisfaction, outcomes, and overall patient AND physician’s satisfaction will follow.

Look for our third post next week where we will explore the impact of healthcare financing, physical space design, and technology innovation on the interactions between the patient, physician, and care team and how infrastructure changes can positively influence the relationship.

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