Dear Ms. Kao,
Thank you for booking a check-up with Dr. Fang for Tuesday, 14 April at 10:30.
Unfortunately, Dr. Fang has been called to the hospital that morning for emergency surgery. We can offer you another time on the same day at 4:00 p.m., or Thursday morning at 9:00 with Dr. Yeh, who also treats skin problems.
Please reply to this message or call the clinic at 02-8877-1234 before Friday. If we do not hear from you, we will keep the Tuesday afternoon slot open for you.
Please remember to bring your health card and a list of any medicine you are taking.
Best wishes,
Reception, Green Street Clinic
To all residents
Last winter one third of our residents were infected. A little care now protects everyone.
A study in Britain timed how long patients spoke before a physician interrupted them. The average was eleven seconds.
That habit costs time rather than saving it. When patients are allowed to finish, they often mention the one symptom that explains everything, and fewer tests are ordered later.
One clinic in Leeds now trains its doctors to stay silent for the first ninety seconds. Complaints have fallen by half, and the number of patients sent back to a specialist a second time has dropped sharply. The doctors report one more benefit: their working day feels calmer.
Green Street Clinic recorded why 2,000 patients came in during one year. Each patient gave only one main reason.
| Reason | Under 40 | Over 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Colds and infections | 44% | 25% |
| Back or joint ache | 12% | 34% |
| Skin problems | 26% | 14% |
| Regular check-up | 18% | 27% |
All figures come from the clinic's own records and cover the whole of last year.