A growing number of medical schools are instituting programs designed to teach medical students how to be better communicators. Skeptics say the training doesn't work and is a waste of time that could far better spent doing more productive things. New standards developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical go into effect next year which will gauge students on professionalism, compassionate care and ethical behavior. The trick, many administrators admit, will be a finding a scientific way to accurately gauge compassion and professionalism.
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