Lesson 7.1 — The 12-Minute RTO Architecture
| Time | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 minutes | Open & discover | Open the story. Let the patient speak. Notice agenda, emotion and early cues. Avoid closing the consultation down with premature closed questions. |
| 2-6 minutes | Clarify & understand | Clarify the clinical problem while exploring relevant ICE and psychosocial context. Explain why you ask sensitive or unexpected questions. Keep curiosity purposeful. |
| 6-9 minutes | Share your thinking | Summarise. Explain what you think and why. Use chunks. Respond to the patient’s reaction. Address the concern they actually brought. |
| 9-11 minutes | Build the plan | Discuss safe options, risks and practical implications. Use patient preferences and life context. Give a professional recommendation where appropriate. |
| 11-12 minutes | Close with shared understanding | Confirm the plan, follow-up and specific safety-net. Check the patient’s remaining questions selectively. Avoid a rushed generic warning list. |
This is not a rigid timing formula. It is a rehearsal map to prevent common RTO problems such as late agenda discovery or a management lecture.