5 ways doctors can foster ‘presence’ with patients

Simple practices, especially at the start of a visit, can build trust and respect: authors

For the GPs who might sometimes focus more on their computers than the patient in front of them, researchers have identified five key practices to foster ‘presence’ in a consult.

Modern medicine has improved care, but time constraints, “intrusive” electronic health records and administrative demands impede the human connection central to clinical care and contribute to doctor burnout, the University of Stanford researchers write in a JAMA report.