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Medical technology has advanced exponentially. But why are patient-physician relationships stuck in the past?
 

That question is at the center of Danielle Ofri's new book, 

One thing patients fear most often is that they'll miss out on the care they need because their doctors aren't really listening to them, Ofri said. Patients worry that physicians will dismiss their experiences because they aren't the "expert" in the room. 
 
Doctors themselves aren't fearless. 
 
Many providers feel the pressure of a demanding schedule and are concerned that if they allow the patient to talk interrupted, they won't stop. 

 published in the British Medical Journal found that the average time it took for a patient to tell their story, if uninterrupted, was 92 seconds. 

Ofri followed up with her own informal study in her own stateside practice and learned that Americans patients are similar. Here's an excerpt from her book:

Ofri also found that things like communication, empathy and connection are not prioritized on the curricula in many medical schools. 

But, maybe after enough medical professionals read this book, those practices will shift. 

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Medical technology has advanced exponentially. But why are patient-physician relationships stuck in the past?

Danielle Ofri is the author of " What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear," a new guide on bridging the gulf between people and their care providers. She joined the program to talk about bridging the gulf between people and their care providers.

The prescription for better health outcomes: communication

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