Teamwork is the key. Hospitals are full of nurses, case managers, and social workers, all striving for better patient care. Communicate with these caregivers to find out what they do for patients and how you can help.

The Underserved Pathway at the University of Washington School of Medicine helps prepare future physicians to work with underserved populations by providing a foundation of practical knowledge and real-world experiences.

Writing a case study of a psychiatric patient may change the patient-physician dynamic even if the patient consents to be written about. And when the patient is a minor and consent must involve her parents, the process becomes even more complicated.

One way of thinking about whether medical school candidates' personalities should influence admission is to ask the question, "Would you want this person to care for one of your loved ones?"

Physician-authors employ patient stories to convey poignant insights about what it is like to practice medicine.

A physician blogging anonymously risks breaching patient confidentiality and misrepresenting the medical profession.

Applicants to medical school are expected to live by their presentation of themselves and of their commitment to medical practice. It is not just a retrospective report but also a promise to which admissions officers should be able to expect them to adhere.

Even when authors of case studies think they have concealed the identity of their patients, there is no guarantee that patients will not recognize themselves should they happen upon the narratives. And this recognition is very likely to cause them discomfort.

The AMA Code of Medical Ethics' opinions on confidentiality of patient information.