Why ask the patient “Is there anything I left out that you feel is important?” during the case presentation?
Because the patient may have something on their mind that did not surface in prior visits, and giving them the explicit opportunity to add it prevents the case from being derailed later by missing information. The verification question gets asked after the doctor has recapped the documented subjective findings. The patient pauses, considers, and either confirms the recap is complete or adds something new. New information at this point can range from a small clarification to a meaningful disclosure: a previously unmentioned upcoming life event, a new concern that emerged this week, a hesitation they had not shared before, or a clarification about what they actually want from treatment. Surfacing the information now lets the doctor incorporate it into the case presentation that follows. Skipping the verification means the doctor proceeds with possibly incomplete subjective grounding, and any missing piece can resurface mid-presentation in ways that destabilize the conversation. The question takes seconds. The value of what it surfaces can be substantial.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.
