May 16th, 2010 by DrRob in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Angry Patient, Doctor, Doctor-Patient Communication, Doctor-Patient Connection, Doctor-Patient Responsibility, Family Medicine, General Medicine, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, Internal Medicine, Medication Refills, Non-Compliant, Patient Upset, Patient-Doctor Relationship, Physician, Prescriptions Filled, Primary Care, Routine Lab Tests, Routine Office Visit, Vitals, Worth It
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I saw the note on the patient’s chart before I opened the door: “Patient is upset that he had to come in.”
I opened the door and was greeted by a gentleman with his arms crossed tightly across his chest and a stern expression. I barely recognized him, having only seen him a handful of times over the past few years. Scrawled on the patient history sheet in the space for the reason for his visit were the words, “Because I was forced to come in.”
My stomach churned. I opened his chart and looked at his problem list, which included high blood pressure and high cholesterol –- both treated with medications. He was last in my office in November — of 2008. I blinked, looked up at his scowling face, and frowned back. ”You haven’t been in the office for over 18 months. It was really time for you to come in,” I said, trying to remain calm as I spoke.
He sat for a moment, then responded with very little emotion. “I’m doing fine. You could’ve just ordered my labs and called in my prescriptions. I don’t know why I had to be seen.” Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Musings of a Distractible Mind*
May 16th, 2010 by Peggy Polaneczky, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Humor, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Anger, Anxiety, Diet and Nutrition, Dietetics, Emotional Eating, Family Medicine, Food and Drink, Frustration, General Medicine, Irritability, Managing Stress, Marriage and Family, Mood Disorders, Mood Eating, Obese, Obesity, Overeating, Overweight, Primary Care, Psychology, Relationships, Sedating Yourself With Food, Sedative, Sustenance, Weight Gain
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Dr. Whoo and I seem to be in the same place at the same time — we both struggle with our weight because we’re using food for something other than sustenance. We use it to manage stress. Overeating is, after all, a wonderful sedative. It soothes the savage beast and all that. And it really works. I’ve probably saved my marriage and my job and kept from killing my kids and my husband by sedating myself with food. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan*
May 15th, 2010 by DrWes in Better Health Network, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: 800-Pound Gorilla, Beeper, Cardiology, Concern, Differentials, Doctor, Doctor's Job, Doubt, Early Morning, Emergency Medicine, Emergency Room, ER, General Medicine, Hauntings, Horror, Internal Medicine, Late Night, Maybes, Mind Racing, Missed Something, On-Call, Pager, Physician, Return Patient, Second Guessing, Sleep, Thunder, Victim, Worry
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2:30AM: The beeper sounds. “Please call the ER x2222.” Why are they calling me? I’m not on call. A flash then a clap of thunder outside. “Your patient from a few days ago is here in the ER.”
The mind races. You remember the case clearly. No problem at all. What could be going on? You ask 20 questions, you get 20 answers. All of the bases have been covered. “Doin’ better now,” you’re told. “We’ll just admit ’em and you can see ’em in the morning.” Hesitantly you return to bed, mind racing. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes*
May 15th, 2010 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Busy Work Week, Date Night, Disinterest, Family Medicine, General Medicine, Healthy Relationship, Hectic Schedule, Husband, Ignorance, Listen, Long Hours, Marriage, Marriage and Family Therapy, Neglect, Nourish, Partner, Prescription For Success, Primary Medicine, Psychology, Romance Rx, Side Effects, Significant Other, Take Time, The One You Love, Too Busy, Wife
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Is there anything more wonderful than date night with the one you love?
Jan and I went out last night. It was a cold rainy May evening, and we drove down the dark highway in my truck. The bench seat is wonderful, because she can sit right next to me, where she has been for nearly 26 years now.
We were in jackets, and asked to sit next to the fire at the restaurant. Exhausted from a crazy weekend, we exhaled and ordered chips and cheese dip, then dined on soup.
When we finished we sat awhile longer, our drinks refilled by our attentive waiter. And we reflected, planned, laughed and told stories. We discussed the year past and the year to come. We basked in one another as we basked in the warmth. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
May 15th, 2010 by Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Aging Adults, Cell Phone, Communication Disconnect, Communication Style, Family, Family Medicine, General Medicine, Geriatrics, High-Tech, Instant Messaging, Internet, Older Relatives, Online, Primary Medicine, Technology Gap, Texting, World Wide Web
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Do you have a technology participation gap in your family? We do. In fact, most families do somewhere.
For us, we have a few older relatives who firmly believe that technology is for “the younger generation.” What’s interesting is that some of these people are not that old — at least not “old” as I define it.
One relative, for example, was a working woman in her younger days. Retired now, she never bought into any technology past the 1970s! Beyond the automobile, refrigerator, TV, radio, dishwasher, washer and drier, she has seen no need for anything else.
Although she has grudgingly begun to use email and the Web, she has deemed herself ”old” and refused to use a cell phone or any other “high-tech device.” Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Gwenn Is In*
