Doctors who take a moment to sit down in the exam room can have a profound effect on patient satisfaction, a new study finds.
The University of Kansas Hospital found that when doctors simply sit down with a patient, even for a brief period, patients are much more satisfied than when the doctor stands during the visit.
The 120 patients documented in the study thought the doctor spent an average of 40 percent more time with them when he was seated than when he was standing. And when the doctor sat down, patients reported having a clearer understanding of their diagnosis.
Some doctors make it a habit to sit down whenever speaking with a patient. If there’s no chair available in the hospital room, some will sit on the hospital bed or kneel down on the floor.
So why are doctors in such a hurry? One reason is paperwork. Documenting visits, medications and diagnoses can monopolize as much as one-third of a doctor’s workday, stealing valuable time that could be spent with patients.
The red tape dilemma is even worse for medical residents. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that residents spend as much as 6 hours per day documenting their visits, and only a fraction of that time with patients.
One proposed solution is to divert the majority of paperwork to support staff, nurses and other medical professionals. But hiring additional staff isn’t a measure most hospitals are willing to take in the midst of a recession.
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