Tag: questions

Will ya stop harassing me about my decision?

So, I made a decision recently that apparently has the whole world and my whole staff reeling. I made the executive decision to give my own personal patients my own personal cell phone number to be able to contact me after hours. I know what you are thinking. What…the…hell?!

Now, let me explain. I gave all the options like 25 years of chances. I gave out all my correct contact info to my hospitals multiple times over the last 25 years, often specifically with me myself showing up to all the departments and hand giving and directly communicating my correct contact info both verbally and in some kind of printed form, while watching the personnel actually change it on the computer or in some kind of antiquated roladex.

Still, I move out of everyone’s line of sight for a minute with cancer number two and suddenly everyone has lost or forgotten all my contact information! They were giving my patients an old house phone number, that I haven’t had in over 15 years. Then, they were giving out my office fax number. Well, no one is going to be able to reach me with that one either. Or, they were giving out my office number, where no one is after hours. This happened even after I re re went back and reshared all my actual contact information myself to all these departments and places. So, in the meantime my patients suffered, there was miscommunication, and my patients had to pay for all these errors in communication, and, I knew nothing about it until it was too late each time.

So, I finally came to the decision that enough is enough. I am not busy delivering babies anymore. I have my phone on me at all times. I can fully answer any questions or solve anything in minutes no matter where I am or what I am doing, and the patients benefit from that. Barring the occasional time where I would miss an actual call, they can text me and make sure that I get their message in a different way. I am planning to stick with this plan. So far it is working out much better and I can provide explanations and comfort in a way that no one else can. I am ready to pull my pants up and do my job and do my best due diligence for my patients. I have made it clear that my number is for urgent matters only and so far patients are following that guideline. I think I am going to stick with it.

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

Flattening the social skills curve: a side effect of the COVID pandemic

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Does anyone else out there notice that they have forgotten how to have a normal conversation lately? I feel like somehow in my mind these last five weeks have really been ten years and I have become sort of like Nel and am losing some basic language skills due to lack of exposure…lol I really have no excuse. I am still working, when I can get patients to show up, and I have had to leave the house a few times for essentials. I do see actual human beings every day at my house and at least once a week at the office and the hospital. And yet, I find myself talking to my dogs like they are my best friend and mooning over 5 year old Facebook memories as if I cannot even remember what those times were like. If I happen to be out walking the dogs( which is often whenever I am home. I am going to have the most fit Shih Tzus on the planet!) I find myself doing an intensive mental prep just in case a random person were to show up and want to have a conversation…..at a safe distance. I try to have any one of a dozen pre prepared things to say because when it does happen, I find myself blathering on endlessly like a 5 year old just to make the conversation last longer until the unsuspecting person finally tears themselves away. Yikes! I am so sorry! I just can’t help it right now. I find myself doing the same thing at the grocery store, just in case someone would want to talk to me. I give over exuberant responses to the basic, polite ” How ya doin?” question as if it might be the last question I am ever asked. I realize that it is ridiculous, but I can’t seem to stop myself just the same. It seems like I am attempting to flatten my own curve right now: the social skills curve. Here’s hoping that that is as temporary as our quarantine. Have a great day everybody!

Dr. Katz