"Patients may care less about whether their doctors are reflective and empathic than whether they are respectful and attentive," writes Dr Michael W Kahn (pictured here) in an NEJM op-ed published early this month.
The crux of his argument is that professors "may or may not be able to teach students or residents to be curious about the world, to see things through the patient's eyes, or to tolerate suffering." But they can teach students to "shake a patient's hand, sit down during a conversation, and pay attention."
By the same token, patients don't care if their physician has read medical literary classics or written reflection pieces which many schools believe will sow the seeds of maturity and sensitivity in their students; they only care when their physician doesn't smile or pays too much attention to her laptop.
As a solution Dr Kahn has deliberately emulated Dr Peter Pronovost and the checklists he developed to help stabilize patients in the ICU. (I wrote about Dr Pronovost's checklists in NRM.) If doctors use a checklist, Dr Kahn believes there's a greater chance patients will leave satisfied. Here's his list for a first meeting with a hospitalized patient:1. Ask permission to enter the room; wait for an answer.
After reading this list one can only wonder whether Dr Kahn isn't being a little tongue in cheek. Are physicians that hopeless when it comes to face-to-face interactions? What do you think about his approach? Will it work, or is it wonky? Leave some comments and let us know.
2. Introduce yourself, showing ID badge.
3. Shake hands (wear glove if needed).
4. Sit down. Smile if appropriate.
5. Briefly explain your role on the team.
6. Ask the patient how he or she is feeling about being in the hospital.
Photo: Gather.com
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Tuesday, 27 May, 2008
Tsk, tsk: Rude doctors forget their grade-school manners
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I've seen over 30 different medical doctors over my life and about 85% or more have been absolutely rude and talk to you with brief vague explainations that leave you feeling like you'll never fully understand whats going on because they're to "bull-headed" to explain. You just feel like they want to brush you off get to the next poor sap and get their day over with as fast as possible. It's hard enough finding out what's wrong with your health but on top of that you have to deal with somebody who just doesnt give a rats ass or give you any time to sit you down and explain whats going on and how theyre going to fix it. Makes situations even more depressing to know you have to deal with miserable doctors. To all the doctors out there who are the opposite of this I really do think your what keeps our health system at the top of the game.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pity that the canadian system is degrading quickly , we have to wait for hours to get a doctor who prescribes a drug and doest make a follow up or doesnt read our blood results unless we call! and the specialist became a mission impossible to find! it is worth writing a movie about our doctors and the hospitals condistion which is horrible, I dont seek a doctor except in extreme cases, it is sad that the system became scary!
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