The first step to better patient visits and satisfaction

The simple act of sitting down during a patient visit can help make the conversation feel less hurried, more open, and friendlier. In fact, evidence suggests that when you take a seat instead of remaining standing, the patient has an improved perception of the visit and may have greater satisfaction. Hospital or exam room setups, isolation precautions, and hygiene concerns may encourage standing, but taking a minute to sit at the patient’s bedside can be especially impactful. One study focused on postoperative rounding found that when the physician sat down during hospital rounds, patients said they felt the visit lasted longer and rated the visit more positively than when the physician remained standing for rounds, even though the time spent at the bedside in each scenario did not actually change.

Read the full FPM article: “Four Evidence-Based Communication Strategies to Enhance Patient Care.”