Comments on: Getting along: Part 1 – Doctor Rules

By: I Work for a Living - Part 2

I Work for a Living - Part 2 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:39:18 +0000

[...] most popular post I ever did was the rules for doctors, and I still try to live by these. I also have some humorous guidelines posted for patients [...]

By: peggy

peggy — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:17:50 +0000

I am with you. The ego of most drs get in the way of seeing the patient and the needs that they are presenting with.

When is the last time you saw an humble dr? I am still waiting to see one.

By: Health Business Blog » Blog Archive » A rule not to live by

Health Business Blog » Blog Archive » A rule not to live by — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:47:41 +0000

[...] of the New York Times summarizes six rules doctors need to know, based on a blog post by Dr. Rob at Musings of a Distractible Mind. One is a rule that doctors follow far too often: Rule 5: They pay for a plan. What do people pay [...]

By: Lynne Halamish

Lynne Halamish — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:28:38 +0000

Could you possibly relate to the issue of whether or not doctors should, would, could, admit their mistakes to a patient who is the victim of an iatrogenic injury. And how this could be done to the benefit of both. (the doctor not having to decieve or back pedal and the patient deserving and recieving the truth)?

By: The Rules For Doctors and Patients

The Rules For Doctors and Patients — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:07:31 +0000

[...] Getting along: Part 1 – Doctor Rules Excerpt: Rule 4. They [Patients] don’t want to look stupid. I remember when I broke my shoulder – a compression fracture of the neck of the humerus bone – and went to the orthopedist office. I always felt self-conscious about how much pain I was reporting. A colleague had fractured his humerus the year before and had reported he was back to doing surgery within a few weeks. Here I was, a few months out and couldn’t even lay down in bed. I felt like a wimp. Was this other guy just tougher than me? My orthopedist made me feel much better when he explained that my colleague had a mid-shaft fracture, while mine was right in the shoulder joint – a much slower place to heal. This event made me realize how many patients felt when they came into my office. People are often worried that they are over-reacting. They wonder what I must think for a person to come to the office with that symptom. This is especially true of parents bringing their children in. Nobody wants to be “that mother that over-reacts to everything.” In response to this, I try to specifically say, “I am glad you came to the office for this because…” or “Yeah, I can see how that worried you because it could be….” [...]

By: Tabatha Basco

Tabatha Basco — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:20:42 +0000

I disagree on rule #3; patients don’t want their doctor to treat them like a spoiled child. I hate it when I feel my doctor dismisses what I think is going on with my health. It’s my body and my health, my doctor doesn’t know how I feel unless he listens to me. I had to twist my doctor’s arm just to run a thyroid panel because my TSH was “normal” but my FT3 and FT4 aren’t. They’ve been steadily decreasing. All he was worried about was my high triglycerides…but duh…that’s a symptom of hypothyroidism.

By: Pre-Med Chick

Pre-Med Chick — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:08:07 +0000

I shadow in the local Emergency Room and I can see every day how difficult it is to foster a doctor-patient relationship in only minutes. However, it is absolutely possible, and most certainly necessary, because trips to the emergency room are generally more serious and need more trust among the physician, the patient, and the family members that accompany the patient. Since the doctor doesn’t have the repeat visit relationships with his/her patients and often the ER experience is pretty taxing, understanding, honest discourse, and kindness go a long way.

By: SandyVoice

SandyVoice — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:32:35 +0000

I discovered your wonderful blog recently, and have just finished catching up on previous posts.

Thanks especially for Patient Rule #5, “They pay for a plan.” I’ve spent a lot of time in doctors’ offices over the past few years (not because I particularly like doctors, although I do, but for more usual reasons), and I find that I often leave not really understanding what I’m supposed to do, or what’s supposed to happen, next. Reading Rule #5 made me realize what I’ve been feeling, and given me a plan. From now on, I will know that I should ASK what comes next, which should make my care much more efficient and effective. Thanks again, Dr. Rob!

By: Diane J Standiford

Diane J Standiford — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:28:23 +0000

Alright! All points good for all service providers, so simple, but must lose ego—that is the hard part for most service providers.

By: Como ser un buen paciente - ¡Cuánta Ciencia!

Como ser un buen paciente - ¡Cuánta Ciencia! — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:18:10 +0000

[...] Lamberts publicó en su blog una serie de consejos para que sus compañeros de profesión mejoraran su relación con los pacientes. En vista del éxito obtenido, el lunes decidió dar seis consejos para ser un mejor paciente. Y [...]