The power of storytelling

My hometown newspaper The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ran a story today about the power of storytelling for patients and physicians. Letting patients talk longer and tell their story reveals more detail to physicians that can help them make a diagnosis. But it's not just talking to a doctor. Patients hearing the stories of other patients also helps them to think more about their own symptoms. The story and the studies it cites demonstrate the importance of communication in health care, not just doctors talking to patients, but doctors listening to patients and patients listening to peers.