Thank you! As an ER doctor, the easiest cases are the ones where the diagnosis means admitting a patient to the hospital. Because then everything becomes someone else’s “problem.” But the less I feel I need to do, the more of an explanation I feel is needed
I have truly appreciated those ER docs who do those little things that make a difference! I was in ER because of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and I told the doc my dad died of cardiac arrest when I was 11. So for me, feeling these palpitations was scary. He pulled up a chair and carefully explained what PVCs were and that what I was experiencing was not imminently dangerous. That act of slowing down rather than just saying there's nothing wrong, you can go home, made all the difference to how I felt and it helped me to feel seen and cared for.
Wonderful essay. As a older patient, I don't insist on 'doing something' and my primary care doctor is good about reassuring me and I trust his judgement when it is indeed time to do something. By the way, he does not have a computer in the room during a visit unless there is some need for one which has never occurred with me. He has a small independent practice which seems to be pretty rare these days, I feel very fortunate.
My only ER experience was four years ago for an MI and the young doctor who saw me wanted to make sure it wasn't a gut issue and I went along with that but asked a couple of times that he talk to my cardiologist. I saw him on the phone with the cardiologist and was soon admitted. The cardiac catheterization lab is an amazing place. Watching your beating heart on a monitor as what looks like squid ink flows around is quite an experience. For all the faults our medical system has, it can deliver great results.
Some years ago I had a consult with an orthopedic surgeon about a separated shoulder. He spent a good twenty minutes explaining that surgery was at best a 50/50 proposition. I was not seeking a surgical solution, but I did appreciate his perspective (he had done a study in medical school on outcomes for this surgery).
This is not specific to this post, but could you interact with comments more regularly? Nothing from you on Friday's post. I know you're extremely busy. And I found your Paul Offitt interview on Medpage illuminating.
“But often, patients feel like the less we do, the less we care. That’s simply not true, though I understand the origin of that emotion.”
This is such a fantastic point that I have know but never quite been able to articulate so clearly.
Great insight and understanding as well as problem solving how to combat it!
Thank you! As an ER doctor, the easiest cases are the ones where the diagnosis means admitting a patient to the hospital. Because then everything becomes someone else’s “problem.” But the less I feel I need to do, the more of an explanation I feel is needed
I have truly appreciated those ER docs who do those little things that make a difference! I was in ER because of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and I told the doc my dad died of cardiac arrest when I was 11. So for me, feeling these palpitations was scary. He pulled up a chair and carefully explained what PVCs were and that what I was experiencing was not imminently dangerous. That act of slowing down rather than just saying there's nothing wrong, you can go home, made all the difference to how I felt and it helped me to feel seen and cared for.
Wonderful essay. As a older patient, I don't insist on 'doing something' and my primary care doctor is good about reassuring me and I trust his judgement when it is indeed time to do something. By the way, he does not have a computer in the room during a visit unless there is some need for one which has never occurred with me. He has a small independent practice which seems to be pretty rare these days, I feel very fortunate.
My only ER experience was four years ago for an MI and the young doctor who saw me wanted to make sure it wasn't a gut issue and I went along with that but asked a couple of times that he talk to my cardiologist. I saw him on the phone with the cardiologist and was soon admitted. The cardiac catheterization lab is an amazing place. Watching your beating heart on a monitor as what looks like squid ink flows around is quite an experience. For all the faults our medical system has, it can deliver great results.
Some years ago I had a consult with an orthopedic surgeon about a separated shoulder. He spent a good twenty minutes explaining that surgery was at best a 50/50 proposition. I was not seeking a surgical solution, but I did appreciate his perspective (he had done a study in medical school on outcomes for this surgery).
Thanks for writing.
Very interesting. Very. About sitting v standing. Thank you.
This is not specific to this post, but could you interact with comments more regularly? Nothing from you on Friday's post. I know you're extremely busy. And I found your Paul Offitt interview on Medpage illuminating.
Hi Jan, I try to reply to comments for most posts. When I don’t, it’s usually because clinical work has taken over.
Glad you liked the Offit’s interview. I’ll share it here next week with a few additional observations.