11 tips to improve physician communication

Physicians pride themselves on being good communicators. Still, survey results show that they often overestimate their ability to communicate effectively with patients. A well-publicized study found that the average doctor interrupts a patient after 16 seconds during the interview process. So, what can physicians do to improve their communication skills and lower their risk of lawsuits? Here are some suggestions.

Neil Baum, MD, is a professor of clinical urology at Tulane University in New Orleans.