How to Improve Doctor-Patient Communication

This article from the Wall Street Journal asks several experts how to improve doctor-patient communication. One response I particularly like is the recommendation for the doctor to ask 3 questions:

• What do you think is going on?
• What are you most worried about?
• What do you think I can do for you?

I like this because patients often know exactly what is going on with them. They have thought about their condition, and lived with it from the very start. Even if their ideas end up being wrong, it is important to address the issues.