Most of us learn to take a medical history fairly quickly, and we are taught how to do a clinical examination and interpret lab reports in medical college. However, our soft skills are often lacking , and while we are good at asking questions which allow us to drill down and come to the right diagnosis, the commonest complaint patients have about doctors is that we don't listen to them. Being a good doctor involves a lot more than just making the right diagnosis and prescribing the right treatment - it requires you to establish an emotional connection with the patient so that the patient can trust you and knows that you have his back - that you understand his problems, and empathize with him.
The good news is that it's not very hard to do this - all you need to remember are these two key questions. The first question when you first see the patient should be - How can I help you ?…
