Outskirts Press, INC.

Patients may not remember what I said, but they will remember how I made them feel

Communication skills are important in all aspects of life, both personal and professional. Never is that more important than in the area of health care. The dialog between a healthcare provider and a patient can be a powerful determinant of patient care and clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, these skills are not taught in the traditional medical school curriculum, and very little time is spent in this area during postgraduate training. As scientific advances and technology progress, we are getting further removed from the art of medicine. I have spent over forty years practicing medicine. I share some insights on simplifying complex medical issues into easily understood concepts from which patients and their families can benefit. The driving force for this book has been the patients seeking this type of care and the countless medical students, residents, and fellows I have mentored over the years. They have observed me on hospital rounds and in the outpatient clinic and witnessed the techniques I have mastered to break down complex medical issues. With simple, everyday, practical analogies, this technique effectively improves patient compliance, physician satisfaction, reduces potential litigation, and most importantly, improves clinical outcomes. I am confident that once you are exposed to some techniques, you will have a new and rejuvenated approach to patient care and, hopefully, develop your own techniques (analogies) as you unlock the keys to successful doctor-patient communication.