A “great bedside manner” is a difficult entity to quantify or define—it is akin to the old saw of “I will know it when I see it”; however, we can identify many elements of what patients have indicated are part of its fabric and presentation. The bedside manner, as viewed over the centuries, is a changing construct, with generational considerations, and is subject to new environments in medical diagnoses and treatments.
Are altruism, empathy, and compassionnstill valued virtues in “modern” medicine, or have patients come to expect something else in the provision of their healthcare by physicians.
Physician empathy training can help doctors shift between analytical, empathic modes rapidly
Studies show that distress, burnout, and depression in medical students and residents have contributed to a recent decrease in their empathy for patients
Starting in 2015, the exam will include stronger emphasis on behavioral sciences and reasoning skills.