My experience as a patient has made me a better physician. Here ’s how.

The medical assistant swabbed my nose and my throat multiple times. Pricked my finger too. Then, the phlebotomist (or vampire?) drew bottles and bottles of my blood. Along with the physical discomfort, there was emotional discomfort too. What would the test results show? If they were all negative, would I be satisfied without having an answer? Being a patient can be extremely vulnerable. Not only do you often divulge to a perfect stranger the details of your health, but also you make the choice to relinquish control and be comfortable with uncertainty. You put your trust in a physician to order the correct tests, and you allow yourself to be poked and prodded by (often) another stranger. You wait for the results for hours to days and are prescribed medications that could potentially have side effects. In a hospital setting, you become even more vulnerable under that hospital gown with tubes, drains, Foley catheters, and IV’s inserted. Often, in an academic setting, a large team consisting of an attending, resident, interns, and medical students come into your room multiple times a day asking questions and examining you. The longer you stay in the hospital; you run the risk of obtaining a hospital-acquired infection too.  And we wonder why our patient’s blood pressure and heart rate remained elevated during their hospital stay. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Primary care Source Type: blogs