Relating to Patients Without Sharing Too Much

Many of us may share personal or professional experiences with patients, often times in an effort to strengthen our relationship with them. Unfortunately, these actions may not always produce the intended positive effects on the relationship. Further, you may be surprised to know that the effects may differ based on our specialty fields. Dr. Mary Catherine Beach, associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, has extensively studied these physician self-disclosures. She talks with host Dr. Jennifer Shu about situations in which the self-disclosures may become ‘too much information.' In a patient visit where you believe you've shared too much, how can you get back on track? What about involuntary self-disclosures, where patients may learn of information about you on the Internet or in the everyday chatter of a small town or community?