A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that doctors interrupt patients, on average, just 11 seconds into their opening statement. Eleven seconds. That's barely enough time to say "I've been having this pain in my chest for a few weeks and I'm worried it might be—"
This isn't a failing of individual doctors. It's a systemic issue rooted in time pressure, cognitive load, and training that historically prioritised efficiency over exploration.
The communication gap in primary care
Primary care consultations are among the most complex interactions in medicine. A GP must simultaneously take a history, examine symptoms, form a diagnosis, manage a relationship, and navigate emotional dynamics — all in under 10 minutes.
Under this pressure, interruption can feel like the only way to keep the consultation on track. But the consequence is a patient who never fully explained their concern, and a doctor who may be working from an incomplete picture.
What patients actually want
When researchers ask patients what they value most in a consultation, the top answers are consistent: to feel listened to, to have their concerns taken seriously, and to leave with a clear understanding of what's happening and what to do next.
These aren't unreasonable asks. But they require space — a kind of structured space that the current system struggles to provide.
The cost of feeling dismissed
When patients feel unheard, they disengage. They delay follow-up appointments. They self-diagnose online. They don't disclose important information in future consultations because they expect it won't matter.
Over time, this erodes trust in the healthcare system itself — with real consequences for health outcomes.
What can actually help
Some of what helps is systemic: longer appointment times, better continuity of care, training in active listening. But some of it sits with the patient.
When patients come to appointments with their concerns already structured — a clear main issue, specific symptoms, a prepared question — consultations become more productive. The doctor spends less time extracting information and more time engaging with it.
This isn't about making the patient's job harder. It's about giving them a tool that makes their voice easier to hear.
That's what we're building with IMA Ready.