What is the doctor-patient relationship? The doctor-patient relationship is an important concept in health care. It is a complex topic that means different things to different people. The doctor-patient relationship is a keystone of care. It is the medium in which data are collected, diagnoses and plans are made, compliance is accomplished, and healing, patient activation, and support are provided (Lipkin, 1995). The doctor-patient relationship is a critical factor in people’s decisions to join and stay with a specific organization. This is a big deal for managed care organizations. There are several factors that have impacted the doctor-patient relationship. They are, but not limited to:
 The medical interview.
 Eliciting patients’ own explanations of their illness.
 Giving patients information.
 Involving patients in developing a treatment plan.
 The accessibility of personnel and their courtesy level.
 Reasonable waiting times and attention to personal comfort.
 Whose doctor is it anyway? (Goold, 1999)
It is during the medical interview when patient and practitioner spend most of the medical encounter in discussion. The interview functions to gather information, develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship, and communicate information. If a patient likes and trusts their physician, then they will share openly with their physician. On the other hand, a patient who

does not trust or like the physician will not disclose complete information efficiently. Likewise, a patient who is nervous or anxious, will not comprehend the information clearly.
Effective use of the structural elements of the interview gives the patients a sense that their concerns have been heard. Along with this comes the feelings of caring, positive regard, and understanding. This allows the patients to be involved in developing their own treatment plan.