One of the most challenging parts of patient care — indeed much of the “art” of medicine — is the simple act of leaving the patient’s room once the visit is over. This may sound like a small issue to write an editorial about, but it actually has ramifications, and is for me one of the most challenging parts of medicine’s social aspect. What do you do to improve your patient's experience?

How do you exit the room with grace?

           "One of the most challenging parts of patient care — indeed much of the “art” of medicine — is the simple act of leaving the patient’s room once the visit is over. This may sound like a small issue to write an editorial about, but it actually has ramifications, and is for me one of the most challenging parts of medicine’s social aspect. What do you do to improve your patient's experience?"

                                                               "How do you exit the room with grace?"

For every patient visit, before I leave the room I stop, make eye contact and ask the patient if they have any questions.  This makes communication so much easier, as they will ask questions were in the middle of the previous conversation in the room they usually not.

It is also  nice because for the "special" patient that wants to complain on their next visit that they did not understand or they felt rushed......one of things that can be said is that I ask every patient if they have a question before I leave the room.

Karr 

I completely agree with Jeff. I always ask the patient, "Anything else today?"  That usually will either:

a)  get the patient to offer up another chief complaint
b)  end the patient visit

And also, it prevents the patient from "complaining" about being rushed out.

Eric 

THE LAST THING I ALWAYS SAY TO THE PATIENT IS 'THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR PODIATRIST....I APPRECIATE YOU, AND I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU. ....IS THERE ANYTHING, THAT I HAVE SAID THAT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND, OR THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO EXPLAIN AGAIN....SEE YOU NEXT.... BYE.

I think that my colleagues have mentioned the most important things:

Eye contact and paying attention to what the patient is saying.

I would like to add to those asking DIRECTLY if they have another question rather than SLITHERING OUT OF THE ROOM or trying to sneak out. It never works so don't even try it. "Oh, I'm just stepping out to get a pen. I'll be right back...." Oh no you don't! They know what you are doing and they will track you down to ask that one last question so you might as well let them ask it while you are in the room.

If you hide, they will find you so be the hero and step up, look them in the eye, invite their questions, re-establish a rapport. It will pay dividends in referrals.