Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Doctor, I’m better: What does that really mean?

Stewart Segal, MD
Patient
October 30, 2011
Share
Tweet
Share

“Better” is another one of the difficult words I have to deal with on a daily basis.

“Doc, I’m better” can mean a lot of things and can lead to both misdiagnosis and poor treatment.  Does “I’m better” mean you are well?  If not, are you really better or is it just wishful thinking?  How much better are you?

On a busy, stressful day, even the most skilled physician can fall for, “Doc, I’m better.”

“I’m glad you are better, Mrs. J.  Please stay on the same medications and see me in a month.”  This typical exchange sounds perfectly fine, doesn’t it?

Mrs. J was very depressed when she was seen 2 weeks ago.  While she was not suicidal, she had started to disengage from her family and friends.  She was feeling somewhat hopeless and could not envision ever being happy again.  I often ask patients to assign a numeric value to their problem, 10 being the best day they ever had and 1 being the worst.  Mrs. J would have been a 2 of 10 when first seen.

On her return visit, Mrs. J was “better.”  Had the doc asked her to define better, she would have been a 3-4 of 10.  While better, she was far from well and still in jeopardy.  Hopelessness is a very bad thing and Mrs. J still felt hopeless.  “Mrs. J, please stay on the same medication and see me in a month,” sends the wrong message.  The message Mrs. J hears is that she is going to feel like this for another month or this is the best the doc can do.  These are not messages that inspire hope.

Accepting “better” leads to a mediocre outcome at best.  Had Mrs. J said, “Doc, I feel a little better,” or had the doc asked, “How much better do you feel?” the scenario would have played out differently.

“Mrs. J, I’m glad you are feeling a little better.  That’s a good sign that we are on the right track.  Let’s increase your dose of medication and see me in 2 weeks.  Hopefully, you will feel a lot better.”  In this scenario, Mrs. J has can have hopes of feeling better and one day being well.

If “better” means well, say so.  If better means a little better, acknowledge that, as well.  Set your sights on being well and work towards that goal.  While a 10 of 10 may be an unrealistic goal, 8 of 10 should be obtainable.  Become a great communicator and help your doc do the same.

Stewart Segal is a family physician who blogs at Livewellthy.org.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

When patient advocacy leads to patient enabling

October 30, 2011 Kevin 1
…
Next

I will pray that I am a humble physician

October 30, 2011 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: Patients, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
When patient advocacy leads to patient enabling
Next Post >
I will pray that I am a humble physician

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Stewart Segal, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    I dream of practicing free medicine

    Stewart Segal, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    I have a problem and my problem is me

    Stewart Segal, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Click, click, click: How can I help you today?

    Stewart Segal, MD

More in Patient

  • AI’s role in streamlining colorectal cancer screening [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • There’s no one to drive your patient home

    Denise Reich
  • Dying is a selfish business

    Nancie Wiseman Attwater
  • A story of a good death

    Carol Ewig
  • We are warriors: doctors and patients

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Patient care is not a spectator sport

    Jim Sholler
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding your medical bill: What those charges really mean

      Cheryl Spang | Finance
    • The emotional first responders of aesthetic medicine

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why testosterone matters more than you think in women’s health

      Andrea Caamano, MD | Conditions
    • A mind to guide the machine: Why physicians must help shape artificial intelligence in medicine

      Shanice Spence-Miller, MD | Tech
    • How subjective likability practices undermine Canada’s health workforce recruitment and retention

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding your medical bill: What those charges really mean

      Cheryl Spang | Finance
    • The emotional first responders of aesthetic medicine

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why testosterone matters more than you think in women’s health

      Andrea Caamano, MD | Conditions
    • A mind to guide the machine: Why physicians must help shape artificial intelligence in medicine

      Shanice Spence-Miller, MD | Tech
    • How subjective likability practices undermine Canada’s health workforce recruitment and retention

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Doctor, I’m better: What does that really mean?
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...