In The Sixth Sense there was that kid who saw dead people. I'm like that. But I see patients and their parents instead. They’re all around me. They’re watching at the grocery store when my kids act up. We meet during anniversary dinners, at Christmas Eve service and on the treadmill at the Y. I bump into parents when buying personal effects and even during the ... Continue Reading about I See Patients
Doctors, Patients and the Disconnected Agenda
In any relationship a simple misunderstanding has the potential to undermine something good. Doctors and patients are no different. I recently consulted with a mother concerned about the distended appearance of her baby’s belly. Before the visit her mom had done her diligence by taking digital images of her daughter’s abdomen. Dozens actually. And at her visit ... Continue Reading about Doctors, Patients and the Disconnected Agenda
What to Do When Patients Contact You on Twitter
When perusing my Twitter feed this morning I stumbled on this post directed to me. Patients reaching me in public social spaces is becoming a regular thing. I’ve discussed this in the past but I think it bears repeating. So here’s what I did: I understood mom's needs. Patients resort to 'nontraditional' means of communication when the traditional channels ... Continue Reading about What to Do When Patients Contact You on Twitter
The Two Biscotti Physician and Patient Experience
Yesterday I ate at one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I had eaten there many times before but the experience this time was different. After ordering I received a vacuous bread basket with precisely two pieces of bread. At the end of my meal I was offered two biscotti…and no more. Only the manager could offer an explanation: As a means of containing costs ... Continue Reading about The Two Biscotti Physician and Patient Experience
What Would You Do if This Were Your Child?
Many times when faced with a clinical dilemma a parent will turn to me and ask, “What would you do if this were your child?” When faced with this question I never quite know what to say. And each time I feel a little on-the-spot. But why is that? Aren’t I comfortable recommending for someone else exactly what I would do for my own child? After all, what have I ... Continue Reading about What Would You Do if This Were Your Child?
Is the e-Patient Revolution Over?
There’s a conversation brewing over use of the term 'e e-patient.' The online health revolution is over, it’s been suggested. Web use, after all, has become so widely adopted that the term 'e-patient' may have more historical meaning. Dropping the ‘e’ might indicate that we’ve arrived. I’m not so sure. Perhaps the revolution we thought was going on never ... Continue Reading about Is the e-Patient Revolution Over?