Brief encounter: origin of patient communication.

Although the amount of time a technologist spends with a patient may be brief, the attitude and approach he uses with that patient is of utmost importance. By being acutely sensitive to the often unspoken thoughts and feelings of the patient, the technologist can respond with the words, touch, or facial expression that will let the patient know he is recognized as a human being and that his needs are understood and are being responded to with empathetic concern.