A 49-year-old lady is moved from a community hospital to a tertiary care institution for treatment of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. A hospitalist cares for the patient overnight before transferring care to the teaching service in the morning. During morning rounds, the patient's new medical team meets with her for the first time. The attending physician introduces the team and informs the patient that the intern will interview him. The patient then calls the intern by his first name and says, "You are eerily similar to my kid. He's highly intelligent and looks a lot like you." Which of the following activities by the intern would be the best way to start the interview?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Developing a therapeutic physician-patient connection necessitates striking the right blend of warmth and professionalism. First impressions matter, and early interactions with new patients can set the tone for the rest of the relationship. Using the patient's chosen manner of address can aid in the development of rapport. Clarifying any doubts regarding pronunciation, titles, or pronouns is also vital. Although younger folks generally prefer to be addressed by their first name, elderly patients may take offense at what they perceive to be excessive familiarity. When in doubt, the doctor should ask the patient about their preferred method of address.
As the physician and patient become more acquainted, many patients will want to be addressed by first name. However, it should be the patient, not the physician, who takes the lead in lowering the level of formality. It is better to ask the patient's preference in an open-ended manner rather than make assumptions.

A 49-Year-Old Lady Is Moved from a Community Hospital to a Tertiary