What questions build similarity with a patient during the exam? Weave them in while you work, and write the answers down. Where are you from originally? Almost always something similar or interesting falls out. How did you come to live where you are now? There is always a story. Do you have family, children, grandchildren? They will tell you, and you will find common ground, oh, I have that many kids too. If they work, ask what kind of work, and share a bit of yours. And do not skip this one: do you have any pets? For plenty of people, [...]