Physicians need better bedside manners.

• Position: Patient Care

With mounting evidence that patient-centered care improves medical outcomes, investigators from the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, Ind., Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and the Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, are providing a call to action for the training of future physicians to master relationship skills as well as the burgeoning scientific knowledge needed to practice 21st-century medicine.

"Medical education today is outstanding at teaching the biological domain, but patients and their families expect more of their physicians than to be diagnosed and sent on their way. They want to have meaningful discussions with their health-care providers;' asserts Richard M Frankel, Regenstrief investigator and professor of medicine at IU.

"We know that greater patient involvement in health care improves the quality of that care and lessens the number of medical errors. There is a growing body of evidence that good communication skills among healthcare providers and between providers and patients lead to better outcomes;' What can be taught to help physicians partner with patients? Three target areas have been proposed:

* Mindful practice--training medical students, faculty, and practicing physicians to be more mindful of their own preconceptions, prejudices, or other factors...