The Clinical Excellence Podcast Integrating the Patient’s Social and Medical Histories
Nov 4, 2025
Dr. Julie Oyler, a general internist and medical educator, shares her fascinating journey of integrating social and medical histories in patient care. She discusses the evolution from handwritten notes to tech-assisted visits, which allow her to focus on patients as individuals. Julie humorously navigates the challenges of balancing empathy with clinical efficiency, especially when family dynamics come into play. She reflects on the growth of long-term patient relationships while managing complex care, offering a thoughtful perspective that resonates with clinicians.
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Decades-Long Patient Relationships
- Dr. Julie Oyler described having 25-year relationships with patients who started at 60–70 and reached 90–100.
- She said she feels proud of those long-term relationships even if it's not solely due to her medical skill.
Full-Circle Practice Evolution
- Oyler described medicine coming full circle from handwritten notes to heavy EHR use and back to focusing on social history.
- She now spends more time on who patients are outside the chart while using tech selectively.
Leverage Ambient Scribing
- Use ambient scribe tech to free attention from typing and maintain eye contact during visits.
- Review and edit the generated note afterward and engage the patient with the chart together.