Trust used to be automatic — a white coat, a degree, a firm handshake.
Not anymore.

In a world where average appointments last just seven minutes, how can any real connection be built?
In this episode, Dr. Fred Bagares shares a real encounter that changed how he views the physician–patient relationship. Through one tense appointment and a moment of silence that said more than words, he explores why trust has become the rarest, yet most powerful, currency in modern medicine — and how rebuilding it might be the most therapeutic act of all.

🕰 Timestamps + Key Themes

[00:00] The Encounter That Said Everything
A patient’s guarded body language and one honest question reveal how distrust quietly shapes the exam room.

[01:00] Seven Minutes or Less
Why today’s average appointment length mirrors a Starbucks transaction — and what’s lost when speed replaces connection.

[02:00] The Systemic Trade-Off
Healthcare rewards throughput, not presence. There’s no billing code for listening — yet it determines whether treatment even works.

[03:00] When Authority Isn’t Enough
Forty years ago, credentials guaranteed trust. Now, patients fact-check us in real time — and influencers fill the emotional gap.

[04:00] The Four Myths That Break Connection

1. Credentials equal credibility
2. More time means better care
3. Objectivity requires detachment
4. Patients can’t tell when we’re distracted

[05:00] The New Language of Trust
Why emotional tone outlasts medical details — and how warmth, not authority, keeps people engaged.

[06:00] Respect Over Authority
Trust is no longer given; it’s earned through clarity, presence, transparency, and reliability — one micro-interaction at a time.

[07:00] A Different Kind of Medicine
Inside direct care: how slowing down, thinking out loud, and clear follow-up create genuine partnership.

[09:00] The Shift From Guilt to Awareness
When a patient’s frustration becomes a mirror for systemic failure — and how it inspired Dr. Bagares to leave the insurance model.

[10:00] Trust as a Physiologic Force
Pain research shows that feeling safe literally changes how the body processes pain. Safety is chemistry — and trust is the trigger.

[12:00] The Long Game
You can’t build trust in one visit, but you can start it. The goal isn’t instant belief — it’s enough credibility to be invited back.

[13:00] The Reframe
In seven minutes, you can’t fix a life — but you can prove you care enough to try. That’s where healing begins.

If this episode made you rethink how healthcare relationships are built, share it with someone who’s lost faith in the system — or a clinician working to restore it.

#TalkingRehabPodcast #MSKDirectVB #TrustInMedicine #HealthcareReform #PatientExperience #FredBagaresDO #DirectCare

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