ABSTRACT
Each physician has a personal preference as to how to start this process. The first author has each new patient fill out a medical and psychosocial questionnaire. After this is completed, a member of the office staff reviews it with the patient and asks why the patient came in for consultation. The staff member then presents an assessment of the patient to the first author before his entering the consultation room. In this way the staff member acts as the initial “eyes and ears” for the physician. Therefore, before actually meeting the patient, the physician has information from two sources: the patient’s answers to the information sheet and a staff member.
