title: Structuring the patient-physician encounter: Joint creation of an actionable roadmap to health.
abstract: The patient׳s experiences and costs related to their care are largely dictated by each patient-physician interaction along the continuum of care. However, the amount of time that a physician spends with a patient creating a medical action plan is highly variable and often not related to the severity or complexity of the patient׳s condition. Adding a structured process to guide and inform patient-physician encounters, including outlining expectations and follow-up by both sides is needed. Addressing these barriers to the physician-patient relationship would reduce variation in care, minimize unnecessary trial and error tactics and instead focus on predicted cost effective actions.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA 02215, United States. Electronic address: sfreedma@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Rose 318, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
authors.forename: Camilia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., 1910 Innovation Park Drive, Tucson, AZ 85755, United States.
authors.forename: Mara G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Aspinall
keywords: Information technology; Patient centered care; Shared health decision making