The New York Times health section this past Sunday had an article entitled “If All Doctors Had More Time to Listen”. The article described a new concept in medical care known as “patient-centered” medicine. Doctors have decided to cut back on the number of patients seen daily and concentrate on treating individual needs more thoroughly. One physician decided to switch once she became wearied from beginning virtually each appointment with the words: “Sorry I am so late.” The number of patients seen daily decreases in this new medical model (one doctor’s new rate of 12 daily patients is half her previous pace), but the thoroughness of each appointment, and quality of service, has increased dramatically. Physicians are learning the backgrounds of patients they have seen for years, for the first time. The patients pay a premium for such a service but they seem happy to do so, in exchange for greatly improved medical service.
This model is an inspiration for mediators. Clients who choose to litigate may not get timely return calls or a sense that they are more than yet another legal file for their family practitioners. If nothing else, mediators do listen, and they do get to know their clients. Everyone desires to have a professional who has the time to listen. Mediators listen and they serve with distinction. They gain nothing by seeing contracted litigation and bitter exchanges. If anything, the opposite is true. If the trend in medical services is true in Family Law, mediation will go in popularity. Mediators do have time to listen. This is how to provide the most professional of services.
Tags: New York Times, patient-centered medecine, mediators, "time to listen"
