The “doctor‐customer” relationship: Hippocrates in the modern marketplace

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance - Tập 15 Số 1 - Trang 9-10 - 2002
Kevin J.Mulhall1, AftabAhmed1, EricMasterson1
1Department of Orthopaedics, Limerick Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland

Tóm tắt

We performed a consecutive survey of 100 people presenting to a hospital injury clinic to ascertain their attitude to terminology currently used to describe them in our own institution and in the international literature. The results of this demonstrated that the subjects significantly preferred the traditional assignation “patient” rather than terms such as client or customer. This finding reflects the need to remember peoples’ attitudes and expectations from their consultation with their doctor. Although business models undoubtedly help in the provision of an efficient health care service, remaining at the centre of this encounter is a doctor‐patient relationship that involves a more complex interaction than simply a market transaction.

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