Improving physicians' bedside manner

With patient satisfaction surveys factoring more heavily into Medicare payments, hospitals are making more of an effort to improve the bedside manner of its physicians. Research has shown that hospitals that encourage physicians to be more responsive to patients are more likely to have higher satisfaction scores. Patients are also more likely to take their medication and follow recommendations if they feel their physicians are empathetic.

Medical systems are experimenting with methods to make their physicians more compassionate such as offering courses in empathy, urging them to follow up with patients through handwritten notes or phone calls, or encouraging them to bond with patients over shared interests.

Source: CNN