ABSTRACT
Having practiced as a doctor now for over 20 years, and having had an intense period of critical healthcare interactions over a period of four years, I have learned the importance of doctor-patient connection and how much can be lost when it is suboptimal. For about four years now, I am lucky to have entered a period of time where my family’s healthcare needs are more about wellness checks and age-appropriate screenings. Even in routine interactions, it helps when there is ease of communication, clear-cut instructions, and knowledge of what is going to happen when I or a family member sees the doctor. In contrast, particularly in inherently stressful healthcare interactions when the stakes are higher due to diagnoses like cancer or organ failure, emotions can run very high, patients are sometimes very rapidly entering into situations unfamiliar to them, and good communication can inadvertently fall to the wayside. Doctors and patients can counteract this with habitual awareness of what we see, hear, and feel. Creating metacognitive habits of observing, listening, and emotional logic can help doctors and patients navigate toward stronger connections and the best healthcare possible.
