Tag: invested

You actually listened to me doctor!

This wonderful statement was said to me at a patient appointment the other day. These words both fill me with happiness and joy and sadness at the same time. I am thrilled to hear them, but I find it unsatisfying and somewhat sad that I was the first person to take this patient’s concerns seriously and even bother to address them. This patient had been to so many doctors and desperately attempted to ask so many questions, all for naught. She left every previous physician office with no answers and only more frustrations rather than solutions.

This is NOT how it is supposed to be folks! We are supposed to listen! We are supposed to be invested! We are supposed to love our job enough to do it well and to the fullest of our capability! We are not supposed to just barely show up as if we are forcing ourselves through drudgery or see so many patients in a day that we just file them through like some sort of herd. We need to listen. We need to provide individualized, thorough, compassionate care to every single patient that walks in the door. We need to let go of any preconceived notions that we may have heard elsewhere or told by someone else. We need to let go of any held on judgements based on previous experience. The only person that matters is that patient that walks in the door. Let’s get our crap together people and do the job that we were meant to do.

If you are a patient out there who has felt neglected, frustrated, and not listened to, please reach out until you find a physician that does listen. You are worth it!

Ponder this for a moment and have an amazing day.

Dr. Katz

Hey there doctors! Guess what? It’s actually a good thing when you have a knowledgeable patient interested in their health care!

It has come to my attention after being a patient A LOT lately, that for some doctors, having a patient who is knowledgeable, dares to ask a question, and is genuinely invested in their own healthcare is some kind of terrifying threat.

Huh? Why? Can anyone tell me why? To me, this makes no sense whatsoever. When I get that patient who asks questions and truly gives a crap about their own health care and wants to be involved, I personally feel like I hit the lottery! I am like O Happy Day! Let’s get you healed and healthier together. Let’s help make you the captain of your own healthcare team. Let’s surge you on to the path to wellness together!

The chances of success in this type of scenario are about a 100 times the chances if it’s not. When you have a patient that is willing to put the work in, is interested enough to ask the questions instead of just blindly following without understanding, that is like striking gold. That is awesome! That is the goal we should be trying to achieve! I just don’t understand why it doesn’t seem to be for most physicians.

But, knowing me. I have a few theories though and I would like to share them with you. Mind you these are just theories and I have no scientific documented proof, but I have had a hell of a lot of experience as a physician and as a patient and this is what I have seen.

I am worried that the physicians that seem so threatened by a patient that asks questions perhaps are just not confident enough in the care or the information that they are providing, or not providing as the case may be.

Well, this should never be the case. Be prepared at all times for questions and clarification. Know your patient so well that you can pre-anticipate what questions might be asked even before they are asked. Actually look at that chart before you enter the room. Anything you are unsure about? Look it up ahead of time and either be ready to talk about it or honestly admit that you don’t know,but are willing to help find someone who does.

It really is that easy sometimes. I get it. Not all conversations are easy. I am just saying that you have to put the pre work in to make things go as well as possible. Sometimes you are giving potentially horrendous news. There is nothing easy about that. It is not the patient’s job to reassure you, it is your job to reassure and support them. This news may make your day a lot tougher emotionally, but it may be changing their entire life all at once. It’s about the patient and your purpose is to help the patient so you gotta just pick up your bootstraps and do it or find another profession.

The bottom line is, I am not one of those threatened by patients being involved or asking questions. I welcome it with full on joy! Bring on them questions!

Dr. Katz