Delaware Handbook: Physician-Patient Relationship WHEN DOES THE PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP BEGIN? Typically, the physician-patient relationship is established when the physician and patient meet in a treatment setting and the physician examines the patient, gives medical advice, and/or begins to render treatment. Treatment may occur in the physician’s office, in a clinic, in the hospital, or anywhere that a consensual relationship is initiated. It can include consults and phone or email contact with other physicians or with the patient. Some physicians mistakenly believe that the relationship does not begin until after the first face-to-face visit when the physician decides whether or not to accept the patient he or she has just examined. Physicians should assume that the relationship begins at the time of the first encounter (in whatever form that encounter takes), and they must institute formal termination procedures if, after that encounter, they do not want to see the patient again. Case Precedent There is no one case th... Are you a Curi member? The full content of this resource is available only to Curi members. Contact us if you are a member but do not have an account yet, or to learn more about becoming a Curi member. Sign in to see full post News & Knowledge READ NEXT January 13, 2023March 9, 2023Clinical Care | Patient Management | Patient Satisfaction | Physician Patient Relationship Guidance for Disclosure of Adverse Events Communicating with patients and families after an unexpected adverse outcome can be difficult. A proactive disclosure of an adverse outcome may defuse anger and prevent potential litigation. Read more August 12, 2021March 9, 2023Clinical Care | Electronic Communication & Social Media | Patient Management | Patient Satisfaction | Physician Patient Relationship | Practice Management | Quality Improvement & Peer Review Warning Letter: Patient Conduct [TEMPLATE] Read more September 11, 2020February 24, 2023Patient Satisfaction | Physician Patient Relationship Florida Handbook: Patient Complaints and Demands A patient is unhappy with our practice and is demanding a refund. What should we do? The office manager or reception staff will usually deal with… Read more