How The Medical Doctors Deal With Patients?

After my last post a friend in a private email asked me "How do (we) doctors deal with patients?" and asked me to expand upon my analogy.
I thought back to the last time I visited the doctor. Doctors are highly trained and specialize in a specific field. This is very similar to our college faculty.  We all have studied for a long time and have specialized in one field. In my case I specialize in the Dismal Sciences better known as Economics.
Before you walk into the examination room you see a receptionist and in an online class you enter your user ID and Password to walk into a course management system.
The Doctor comes in and examines you. He/she may ask you how you are feeling followed by placing a stethoscope to hear your heart beat and breathing. In an online class we do that by having an introductory 'Self Introduction' discussion posting. Here we find out "Why are they taking our class? What are their goals in taking our class?"
Next the doctor gives you a prescription for better health. We do that in an online environment by providing our students a syllabus.
Sometime the Doctor gives you general advice such as "cut down on your salt intake" or "quit smoking". In an online class we tell the student "Log in on a regular basis", "read the textbook", and "do not procrastinate".
Next time you visit a Doctor for a follow up they monitor the changes in your blood pressure. We can do this by assessing students on a regular basis and observe their progress.
The doctor warns you if your blood pressure or cholesterol has gone up. They recommend exercising more.  We can warn students that they are falling behind and need to exercise their mind more. 
The goal of any doctor is to see as many patient as possible. Look at the charts of each patient. Record their observations about the patient. Wash their hand and leave the room saying "Here is a prescription and you can get dressed now." before moving on to the next patient.
The other similarity between an online instructor and a Doctor is their popularity is based on their bedside manners.
I will post about bedside manners in another posting.