The role of communication in the physician's office

The apparent cause of a medical malpractice claim almost always fails to re veal the unseen emotional and psychologic factors that triggered the patien t's visit to an attorney; however, the most common element in an adversaria l doctor-patient relationship is failed communication. By concentrating on using good listening skills, physicians can greatly improve their relations hip with their patients. Furthermore, communication between the physician a nd the nurse is vital for quality patient care as well as avoidance of medi cal malpractice.