The initial interaction between patient and provider is critical to building a trusting care relationship, according to Nabil Ebraheim, MD, the chairman of orthopedics at the University of Toledo (Ohio).
Dr. Ebraheim characterized this interaction as the "golden 10 seconds of patient care" in a recent blog post published by The Huffington Post.
"The patient will make a decision within the first 10 seconds if they like and trust their doctor based on body language and unspoken words. During this critical time the patient determines their perception of you as a physician or a healthcare provider," writes Dr. Ebraheim.
Dr. Ebraheim identified five areas of focus for improving introductory interactions with patients.
1. The stance: Stand before the patient in an open stance. Do not enter the room with your arms crossed and maintain good posture throughout the encounter whether sitting or standing.
2. The handshake: Make sure to offer the patient a quality, standard firm-grip handshake. The gesture should be neutral, conveying a sense of equality.
3. Avoid distraction: "Listen to the patient! Give them your undivided attention and talk to the patient face to face. Do not allow yourself to become distracted by your cell phone, your notes, checking medical records, the computer, or X-rays. It is best that you study all of the patient's information before you go into the room, so that you can give the patient your undivided attention," writes Dr. Ebraheim.
4. Make eye contact: Patients often look to physicians' eyes for assurance. Maintaining eye contact can help establish the provider patient bond.
5. Make room for personal space: "Avoid being physically too close to the patient during the visit or this could create discomfort and annoyance. The personal distance between the doctor and the patient should be between 18 inches to 4 feet. Any closeness less than 18 inches between the doctor and patient, could lead to the encounter becoming too intimate or too close for the patient," writes Dr. Ebraheim.
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