Not long ago, most patient visits followed a familiar pattern. A patient described their symptoms, the clinician gathered information, made an assessment, and explained what they believed was happening. For many patients, that appointment was their first meaningful exposure to information about their condition, and much of the visit focused on education.
When patients think about healthcare, they usually think about the appointment. They remember the conversation in the exam room, the physical examination, the diagnosis, and the treatment plan they carried home. From their perspective, the visit is the center of the healthcare experience.
