You’re trying to build rapport with a physician. What are some effective strategies?

Finding common hobbies and interests has been such a great way to connect with my colleagues. It’s so nice to talk about things outside of work. It often diffuses the stress in a tense work environment such as the ER.

Showing genuine interest and active listening goes a long way in building rapport with anyone more so with professionals. Asking questions about their work, their challenges, their successes goes a long way in making them comfortable and developing a rapport with physicians.

Rapport is created through a process of mutual respect, communication, and empathy. Physicians thieve on respect. In order to achieve a good rapport you have to be willing to listen more and speak less. They do not like to be interrupted. They need to feel that what they had to say was important and that you care, By allowing the Physician to speak and explain his concerns, frustration you give him/or her an outlet and that builds trust. Find common ground by asking questions and showing you care. By doing that you're building trust. And to build trust you must have a solid foundation to build on.

Physicians are always open to knowledge that can help them treat their patients better. I always share research studies or outcomes based on the liking/interest of the physician. Most of them are already aware (due to medical reps sharing literature), still they appreciate this gesture and this builds a long term rapport. All the best!!

To build rapport with a physician, practice active listening, show respect and genuine interest, communicate clearly, collaborate on patient care, seek feedback, maintain professionalism, stay informed, be reliable, use humor judiciously, build personal connections, and acknowledge healthcare challenges. Adapt your approach based on individual preferences for an ongoing and positive relationship.

The Diverted Healer A pivotal issue confronting patients is when physicians manifest signs of being preoccupied with technological gadgets during consultations. Rather than devoting their undivided attention to the patient, certain physicians might appear diverted by the act of inputting data into electronic devices or consulting digital records. Consequently, patients may discern a lack of attentiveness, resulting in sentiments of discontent and diminished confidence in the healthcare provider. Slow down and take the time to know our patients.

Common ground can be a powerful way to build rapport, but be careful with your approach. Physicians are very busy and under immense stress, meaning they don't always want to make small talk or engage in idle chatter. Start small — perhaps with an offhand observation about a shared passion for family, sports, hobbies, patient care, etc. — and note how your efforts are received. Don't push too hard.

To build rapport with a physician is to find common ground with them. This means identifying and highlighting the similarities that you share, such as your values, your passions, your experiences, or your challenges. For example, you can mention something that you both enjoy, such as a book, a movie, or a sport. Or you can share something that you both struggle with, such as time management, stress, or work-life balance. By doing so, you can create a sense of connection and empathy, and reduce the potential for conflict or misunderstanding

A seventh way to build rapport with a physician is to invite them to sit on committees or special projects whether medical or business related. Their knowledge and expertise prove valuable and offers insight as strategies and decisions are made that impact the trajectory of the organization’s success. Reaching out for their input shows they are considered a respected contributor; this can go a long way in relationship building.

Physicians often have demanding schedules. Demonstrating respect for their time by being punctual, prepared, and efficient in your interactions can go a long way. Acknowledge their expertise by listening attentively to their insights and valuing their contributions to discussions or projects.

Build rapport with their Staff that creates a positive environment when you make your calls. (No matter how the Physician(s) see you - positive, ongoing words of praise from the staff are Marketing PR long after you leave; and before your next scheduled return).

Coming prepared to any meeting is common courtesy, & establishes you as a professional from the start. It shows you’ve thoroughly briefed yourself on a case/patient, that you understand your role, & articulate it, which relieves anxiety the professional has about working w/you, knows you plan to stay in your lane, & it establishes trust & respect. You can proceed w/initial thoughts/reasons you’re seeking their guidance/intervention, acknowledging there are areas & value they add you aren’t privy to. That you know you don’t have all the answers, but would like to get the best care for the individual in question, to do that, you need the best people in their areas of expertise to meet their needs. - Dr. Nikki Martinez, Psy.D., LCPC

The Distracted Physician One of the primary concerns patients face is when physicians appear preoccupied with technology during appointments. Instead of focusing entirely on the patient, some physicians may seem distracted by entering data into electronic devices or referring to digital records. As a result, patients may perceive a lack of attentiveness, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and reduced trust in the healthcare provider. Make your patients feel welcome and that the time you spend with them belongs to them.

Recognizing and adapting to a physician's communication style and preferences was crucial for effective collaboration. One physician preferred concise email updates and another favored brief, in-person check-ins. By accommodating these preferences, I was able to facilitate smoother and more productive exchanges.

I'm a fan of gratitude and appreciation, but your words must be sincere and appropriate. Thanking a physician for their advice and support makes sense and will be well-received. Praising their medical skills as if you were a clinical peer feels like a stretch and will fall short (unless you truly are a peer). Don't be trite or excessive with your praise, either. It will be clear that you're not sincere.

Positive feedback is important for all employees in any field. Try to stick with "I appreciate" or "you performed at the top with xyz situation". This can often lead to providers growing within the organization and in their careers.

El feedback positivo es importante, le da valor a lo que el otro hace. Crucial que cuando uno está realizando un contribución se de este elemento!

You have to take the time to find out how they like to communicate. For example, we used to always get docs on the phone to get to know them before we had something to sell. We thought we were building rapport, but people often felt the call wasn't necessary. They got to know us through the work we put out (like on LinkedIn) and only wanted to chat if they had questions.

If you're on a care team, you know that physicians are akin to quarterbacks. Hence, you need to follow their lead and expectations. Begin by asking your physician leaders how you can can best communicate with them. Would they prefer a morning briefing? Do they use text messaging? How much detail do they want to know? What constitutes a crisis worthy of a midnight message? But also encourage frequent feedback so you can course-correct your style and work even more effectively with them.

Phsycians are very busy and have varying schedules. By learning their preferences, they have a more uniform manner of checking communications (i.e.: text me if urgent, but otherwise send an email and Ill respond at the end of the day or shift). Only sending true urgent messages as urgent will help with frustrations as well.

Seeking feedback shows respect and appreciation. Many physicians have exceptional business minds. Asking their opinions/ thoughts can also prevent burnout as there is another thought process interrupting the same old same day to day process.

A request for advice or feedback is powerful since it shows respect for a physician's expertise and role. You can't just ask for advice though and never act on some of it. Explain candidly what made sense to you and how you took action. They'll appreciate you closing the feedback loop and will feel even more appreciated. Over time, you'll get more and better feedback.

Listen. Be patient. The physician will show you how they want to be communicated with. You need to guide them through issues without wasting their time. Be sure to filter out the “noise” for them as well. In my experience with specialized surgeons, they want clear, concise, and knowledgeable information without any fluff. It’s noise to them and they don’t need it.

Active listening certainly helps to build rapport in many circumstances. In addition, empathetic engagement is key to developing a deeper connection with a physician. There are many circumstances in patient care leading to perceived experiences and personality traits of a physician. Having a better understanding of where a person is coming from based on prior experiences is such an important factor in learning beyond the surface.

Technology has transformed the landscape of healthcare communication. Its integration into in-person interactions between doctors and patients is not without challenges. The distracted physician phenomenon and the perception of less personalized care underscore the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to healthcare delivery. By addressing these challenges proactively and prioritizing patient-centered care, healthcare organizations can ensure that technology complements rather than detracts from effective doctor-patient communication. Training programs can emphasize the importance of active listening, non-verbal communication, and establishing rapport.

El respeto del tiempo de ambas partes es igual de importante que todos los puntos antes mencionados. La empatía y la búsqueda de la mejora continua deben estar siempre en foco en cualquier relacionamiento, laboralmente hablando es importante ya que da valor al vínculo.