8. Watch the Patient’s Body and Face
Much of what is conveyed between a physician and patient
in a clinical encounter occurs through nonverbal communication.
For both physician and patient, images of body language
and facial expressions will likely be remembered longer after
the encounter than any memory of spoken words.
It is also important to recognize that the patient-physician
encounter involves a two-way exchange of nonverbal information.
Patients’ facial expressions are often good indicators
of sadness, worry, or anxiety. The physician who responds
with appropriate concern to these nonverbal cues will likely
impact the patient’s illness to a greater degree than the physician
wanting to strictly convey factual information. At the
very least, the attentive physician will have a more satisfied
patient.
Conversely, the physician’s body language and facial
expression also speak volumes to the patient. The physician
who hurriedly enters the examination room several minutes
late, takes furious notes, and turns away while the patient is
talking, almost certainly conveys impatience and minimal
interest in the patient. Over several such encounters, the patient
may interpret such nonverbal behavior as a message that his
or her visit is unimportant, despite any spoken assurances to
the contrary. Thus, it is imperative that the physician be aware
of his or her own implicit messages, as well as recognizing the
nonverbal cues of the patient.