January 6th, 2010 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion
No Comments »
This was the year that Pharma disclosed the names and payments of their physician consultants. Look here for physicians speaking and consulting with Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, and Pfizer.
Physician disclosure of conflict is important. It helps put a physician’s opinion and point of view into a context. Disclosure has long been the standard in the academic world. This represents the first time that such information has been made available to the general public.
But how will patients use this information and how will it affect care and outcomes? Should patients flatly avoid physicians or others who have a relationship with a pharmaceutical company? And should patients routinely screen physicians for conflict?
I don’t know the answer to these questions. I’m not sure patients know the answer to these questions. I suspect patients may not like the idea but would be willing to overlook a pharma connection when the reputation of the physician is impeccable.
Transparency is all the rage. Expect more. But I’m wondering how the average health consumer will practically process the information.
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
December 30th, 2009 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion
1 Comment »
I used to get lots of gifts from patients during the holidays. Not so much anymore.
I’m more patient-centered than ever. And the older I get the more relaxed I get with my patients. I’d like to think
that I’m more likeable. But still fewer gifts than ten or fifteen years ago.
So what gives?
Times have changed.
Doctors nowadays are dispensable. If a patient doesn’t like what they’ve got they can move on. But this is probably a good thing. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
December 13th, 2009 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion
No Comments »
We assume that technology will improve communication between doctors and patients.
But not always.
Look at the 2,000 word email.
While it isn’t yet the standard means of communication in our clinic (it will be soon) we occasionally take email from patients. My experience has been that they’re sometimes long and unfocused with tangential information irrelevant to the problem at hand. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
December 10th, 2009 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, True Stories
1 Comment »
A close relative recently underwent hip replacement at the Texas Orthopedic Hospital in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. She raved about her surgeon, Dr Richard Kearns. I had the opportunity to sit by her bed while he made his evening rounds (he didn’t know I was a physician until we were introduced at the end of his visit).
These are the qualities seem to make him successful:
- Approachable.
He bridged the technical gap that often separates patient and surgeon. He used carefully chosen language
and examples the average person can understand.
Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
December 3rd, 2009 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion
8 Comments »
I see it from time to time. The doctor with a voice who’s uncomfortable with transparency. They post and comment under the cozy blanket of putative anonymity. But it’s bad policy. Here’s why doctors need to be outed in social media:
Anonymity is a fantasy. It’s remarkably difficult to achieve. With small thoughts you can hide – in fact, no one cares who you are. If you offer anything worth hearing people will ultimately find out who you are. And the plaintiff attorneys will always sniff you out.
You need a reality check. Anonymity gives us phony security and opens the door for us to say the things we wouldn’t normally say. There’s no editorial influence more powerful than knowing that my patients and my boss are listening. While an incendiary rant may serve to vent frustrations and drive traffic, it just fuels the perception of doctors as cynical, frustrated folks. And we don’t need help with that. Read more »
