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Physician-Patient Communication: A Lost Art?

Dr. Frymoyer is Professor Emeritus, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, and former Dean, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, VT. Ms. Frymoyer is Patient Educator and Founder, Community Health Resource Center, Fletcher Allen Healthcare, Burlington.

Reprint requests: Dr. Frymoyer, 1450 Braeloch Road, Colchester, VT 05446.

In the face of rapid advances in technology, there has been a progressive deterioration of effective physician-patient communication. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has identified that patients rate the orthopaedic profession as high in technical and low in communication skills. Poor communication, especially patient-interviewing skills, has been identified in medical students as well as in practicing physicians. Effective communication is associated with improved patient and physician satisfaction, better patient compliance, improved health outcomes, better-informed medical decisions, and reduced malpractice suits, and it likely contributes to reduced costs of care. Recognition of the importance of communication has influenced medical schools to revise curricula and to teach communication skills in residency training and continuing medical education programs. National certifying examinations also are being designed to incorporate these skills. Although written material is useful in increasing awareness of the importance of good physician-patient communication, behavioral change is more likely to occur in a workshop environment. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is taking leadership in designing and implementing such an approach for its membership.

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