Talking to Parents

I have said this many times, but I think it is worth repeating. Sit down when you go to talk to parents. Take your time and get to know them and their child - your patient. It reduces their anxiety and when that happens the child's anxieties may be diminished. Parents also respond well to clinicians that can engage children. I find that the best way to do that is to sit at eye level with the child and talk to them in a soft voice. It really doesn't matter what you say - hence my questions to three year olds about their explanations of complex economic concepts...like credit default swaps. In my mind the three year olds give more intelligent answers than the pundits.
Rae Brown, MD