As a non-academic, 100% clinical physician for 20 years, I would add the following point. Here in Philly tis the graduation season from med schools like Penn, Temple, Drexel, and Jefferson. I was holding a seance with Dr. Benjamin Rush (as one does here in Philly) and it struck me that physicians need to simultaneously listen and not listen to their patients.
Listening is so crucial, as normally the patient leads you towards the right diagnosis and care plan. But at the same time you need to step back and not listen, isolating chief complaints, red flags, and especially those intuitive funny feelings about something being quite wrong.
Patients are amazing sources of information, but also prone to rationalizing their symptoms... and so one has to do the impossible task of listening and not listening at once.
100% But not easy! These folks just survived such a competitive experience (from premed to matching) and now we tell them "be humble!" It's absolutely good advice :) Essential, in fact.
These are excellent points, and well appreciated!
As a non-academic, 100% clinical physician for 20 years, I would add the following point. Here in Philly tis the graduation season from med schools like Penn, Temple, Drexel, and Jefferson. I was holding a seance with Dr. Benjamin Rush (as one does here in Philly) and it struck me that physicians need to simultaneously listen and not listen to their patients.
Listening is so crucial, as normally the patient leads you towards the right diagnosis and care plan. But at the same time you need to step back and not listen, isolating chief complaints, red flags, and especially those intuitive funny feelings about something being quite wrong.
Patients are amazing sources of information, but also prone to rationalizing their symptoms... and so one has to do the impossible task of listening and not listening at once.
Right? Listening is not the same thing as listening AND processing. If we don't do that, we've done a disservice.
I advise graduating medical students to maintain intellectual curiosity, teach others, and practice with humility and grace.
100% But not easy! These folks just survived such a competitive experience (from premed to matching) and now we tell them "be humble!" It's absolutely good advice :) Essential, in fact.
Another thing I’m reminded of. Make appropriate eye contact and don’t just look at the computer when seeing patients.
And don't look at your watch when you first see them.
I don’t want to be in an er, but boy do I want a doctor just like you! Thank you-