Building a strong physician-patient relationship is in many ways a complex process. The patient expects the physician to respect his time; provide a good clinical outcome; and improve his quality of life following treatment.

However, rather than dwell just on the physician’s responsibilities, it is important to remember that staff members play a significant role in helping the physician connect with patients. Here are a few staff strategies that will help make the physician-patient relationship more effective.

1. Identify different types of patient visits. There are at least four different categories of patients who will be seen in the office on any one day. The key is to understand that each patient category presents with a different expectation. While it is impossible to approach each patient in exactly the same way, ask your team, “What can be done ahead of time to prepare for each of these categories of patients?”

• The patient in need of diagnosis and possibly quick treatment;
• The patient who presents for treatment, e.g., procedure, infusion, injection;
• The patient who has a chronic condition; and
• The patient who is seeking a wellness visit.

You should have a general discussion with your staff about what patient expectations may be for each type of patient visit, and what can be done to meet those needs.

Read more: Physicians Practice