PHYSICIAN-PATIENT COMMUNICATION IN MANAGED CARE

The quality of physician-patient communication affects important healt h care outcomes, Managed care presents a number of challenges to physi cian-patient communication, including shorter visits, decreased contin uity, and lower levels of trust. Good communication skills can help ph ysicians create and maintain healthy relationships with patients in th e face of these challenges, We describe 5 communication dilemmas that are common in managed care and review possible solutions suggested by recent literature on physician-patient communication, We also describe ways that managed care plans can promote more effective communication between physicians and patients.