Patient voices

1,315 articles · Since 2005

Articles, page 39

A contract for patient responsibility

September 11, 2011Sep 11, 201122

I often refer to myself as a fireman pouring water on the flames that are burning my patients. Often, I view my patients as arsonists, pouring gas on the fire I am working to put out. Taking personal responsibility is a critical component of success in any of life’s ventures. While my patients are very responsible business and family men and women, they often take no responsibility for their …

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A contract for patient responsibility

How elderly patients can be stubborn to their own detriment

Sharon Bahrych, PA-C, MPH

September 11, 2011Sep 11, 20114

The elderly population can be fun to take care of (they have more stories than you have time to hear), or they can be a handful in regards to all of their chronic complaints and numerous medications. But then, there are those senior citizens that come into clinic and tell us, “I don’t need to take medications, I haven’t taken medications my whole life, and look at where it’s …

What to ask a doctor when faced with a difficult diagnosis

Linda Pourmassina, MD

September 10, 2011Sep 10, 20112

We live in an era of medicine in America in which patients want to be involved in their healthcare. This is very satisfying to physicians like me, who prefer to educate and engage patients rather than just telling them what to do. Granted, there are some instances when a patient does need to be told what to do (ex: “You have appendicitis. You need surgery.”)

However, when faced with a …

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The dual tragedy of suffering catastrophic illness and being uninsured

John Maa, MD

September 9, 2011Sep 9, 201118

An estimated 60% of American bankruptcies result from overwhelming medical costs. My uncle’s tale illuminates the dual tragedy of suffering catastrophic illness and being uninsured. The 2008 recession claimed my uncle’s job, health benefits, and assets, except for a small…

An estimated 60% of American bankruptcies result from overwhelming medical costs. My uncle’s tale illuminates the dual tragedy of suffering catastrophic illness and being uninsured.

The 2008 recession claimed my uncle’s job, health benefits, and assets, except for a small inheritance. By 2009 he found work (but not health coverage) as a consultant.

One day he noticed that his eyes were yellow. He emailed a photograph, and I immediately recognized jaundice. I …

Defining what health truly is

Stewart Segal, MD

September 9, 2011Sep 9, 20113

I read an interesting article by Jason Luban, a licensed acupuncturist, on why so many patients flock to alternative practitioners. Mr. Luban brought up an interesting question, "What is health?" Is health simply the absence of disease? If it is,…

I read an interesting article by Jason Luban, a licensed acupuncturist, on why so many patients flock to alternative practitioners. Mr. Luban brought up an interesting question, “What is health?”

Is health simply the absence of disease? If it is, there certainly aren’t very many healthy patients in my neck of the woods. Most of the patients I take care of have something that’s not quite right. I only know one perfect …

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Defining what health truly is

Asking patients about their health care financial concerns

Libertad Flores

September 8, 2011Sep 8, 20114

I remember joking with Dad about how he'd outlive us all. He had gone vegetarian 10 years before I was born, never smoked, took vitamins, and asked for a designated driver after his annual Heineken at the neighbor's Christmas shin-dig.…

I remember joking with Dad about how he’d outlive us all. He had gone vegetarian 10 years before I was born, never smoked, took vitamins, and asked for a designated driver after his annual Heineken at the neighbor’s Christmas shin-dig. He flossed, wore a seat belt, and looked forward to annual physicals. If I tried leaving our Michigan house in the winter with more than 3 inches of skin exposed, …

An incorrectly coded $1,000 billing error

Michaela Dinan

September 7, 2011Sep 7, 20116

As a graduate student in the health field I often get phone calls from various family members and friends asking what I happen to know about different drugs, procedures, and devices. I was having one such conversation with my younger sister last spring. She had just completed her undergraduate education, started a new job, and was very proudly financially self-sufficient for the first time.

We were talking about birth control. Her …

Slipping through the cracks in our health care system

Kelly Cheramy

September 6, 2011Sep 6, 20112

Between the cracks is a frightening place to be. During the course of trying to improve our family’s financial stability, my husband and I were blind-sided by one hidden detail: We’d face $10,000 in costs to continue my husband’s serious…

Between the cracks is a frightening place to be.

During the course of trying to improve our family’s financial stability, my husband and I were blind-sided by one hidden detail: We’d face $10,000 in costs to continue my husband’s serious medical treatment because we found ourselves unexpectedly without coverage for 30 days.

This was money we simply did not have. We had been prepared to foot the full bill for good health …

A real doctor will first do no harm

Emily Gibson, MD

September 3, 2011Sep 3, 201126

I’m really miserable and need that 5 day antibiotic to get better faster. Ninety eight percent of the time it is a viral infection and will resolve without antibiotics. But I can’t breathe and I can’t sleep. You can use…

I’m really miserable and need that 5 day antibiotic to get better faster.

Ninety eight percent of the time it is a viral infection and will resolve without antibiotics.

But I can’t breathe and I can’t sleep.

You can use salt water rinses and decongestant nose spray.

But my face feels like there is a blown up balloon inside.

Try applying a warm towel to your face.

And I’m feverish and having sweats at night.

Your temp …

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A real doctor will first do no harm

How diet and exercise beat high blood pressure

Eric Marcotte, MD

September 3, 2011Sep 3, 2011

All day I badger and cajole my patients to take better care of their bodies: "We really need to get some of this weight off, Mr. Jones." "This blood sugar level means diabetes is right around the corner – it’s…

All day I badger and cajole my patients to take better care of their bodies:

“We really need to get some of this weight off, Mr. Jones.”

“This blood sugar level means diabetes is right around the corner – it’s time to get serious about changing your diet, Ms. Smith.”

“This blood pressure reading tells me that you’re not getting enough exercise, Bill.”

I’ve got pills for everything, it seems. I just wish I …

When parents respond to the meaning of a child’s behavior

Claudia M. Gold, MD

September 1, 2011Sep 1, 20116

It was a peaceful Saturday morning at Fuel, a local coffee shop in Great Barrington. People sat quietly murmuring with friends over coffee and muffins, or intently working at their laptops. I was doing the final edits for my forthcoming book Keeping Your Child in Mind, when I looked up to see a small boy of about two years tottering down the narrow aisle holding a plate with an …

Should patients be allowed to record their office visit?

David Troxel, MD

August 31, 2011Aug 31, 201112

Whether your office has wireless access or not, there will be patients texting, surfing the Internet, Facebooking, and otherwise engaging with the outside world on their smartphones while in your office. These smartphones have another function: the ability to record…

These smartphones have another function: the ability to record audio or video. It is understandably tempting for patients to record consent discussions, medication and follow-up instructions, and other physician or staff interactions.

Recording a medical discussion via video or audio is …

A physician responsibility for the financial health of patients

Stephen Meyers, MD

August 30, 2011Aug 30, 2011

Much as war begets both high-profile losses and the unsung wounded, two ranks of casualties lay fallen, rent financially by medical treatment. First are those of headlines, injured mortally, or nearly so, by insurmountable debt. Such wretched tragedy serves notice…

Much as war begets both high-profile losses and the unsung wounded, two ranks of casualties lay fallen, rent financially by medical treatment.

First are those of headlines, injured mortally, or nearly so, by insurmountable debt. Such wretched tragedy serves notice to all that a singular turn of fate may lead one swiftly to financial ruin.

Less-celebrated are members of the second order, surviving but spending more than requisite for their care. In contrast to the …

How a Google printout can strengthen your relationships with patients

Lukas Zinnagl, MD

August 30, 2011Aug 30, 20115

If you are a practicing physician then it probably already happened to you more than once. Mature and responsible patients tend to Google their symptoms, medication and illnesses on the web – a phenomenon commonly referred to as cyberchondria. Nine out of ten women more or less decide which oral contraceptive they will take and not the doctor does. She will just let the doctor know whether his choice …

10 tips from 10 years sick

Toni Bernhard, JD

August 29, 2011Aug 29, 20118

Ten years ago this summer, my husband and I flew from California to Paris, planning to immerse ourselves in Parisian culture for three weeks. The second day there, I got sick with what appeared to be an acute viral infection. I spent most of those three weeks in a Parisian bed. Ten years later—I’m still sick. I didn’t research what I should …

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10 tips from 10 years sick

Hold funerals for unclaimed dead bodies

Frances Shani Parker

August 29, 2011Aug 29, 20117

Rest in peace. These words are a common theme at funerals honoring loved ones. But many people die with no one claiming their bodies. For example, at hospitals there are unclaimed bodies of patients and the unborn. Corpses are found abandoned often in police cases. Mortal remains can go unclaimed due to insufficient funds for burial or cremation, insufficient concern for the deceased, and lack of available or known family …

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Hold funerals for unclaimed dead bodies

The effect of therapeutic touch is based on pure chance

George Lundberg, MD

August 28, 2011Aug 28, 20117

There is no "alternative medicine." There is only medicine: Medicine that has been tested and found to be safe and effective. Use it; pay for it. And, medicine that has been tested and found to be unsafe or ineffective. Don't…

There is no “alternative medicine.” There is only medicine:

Medicine that has been tested and found to be safe and effective. Use it; pay for it.
And, medicine that has been tested and found to be unsafe or ineffective. Don’t use it; don’t pay for it.
And, medicine for which there is some plausible reason to believe that it might be safe and effective. Test it and then place it into one

…

Manage malpractice risks with self-diagnosed patients

David Troxel, MD

August 28, 2011Aug 28, 2011

Search engines and the Internet are impacting patient behavior—eight out of 10 people use the Internet to look for health information, but only 25 percent of those people verify the credibility of their information source before self-diagnosing. It gets even…

The debate among physicians about the credibility of online information is as old as the Internet itself. As a caregiver, …

Why I love community health fairs

Dr. Peripatetic, MD

August 27, 2011Aug 27, 2011

There is nothing like a good community health fair. Away from the formal, detached sterility of the office this is an opportunity to meet patients on their turf. No longer adorned with white coat, power outfit and accompanying entourage, physician meets patient as just another member of the community, an equal almost. With a backdrop of blaring music, sweltering heat and flavorful eats people young and old gather, eager to …

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Why I love community health fairs

The trouble with Dr. Google

Dr. Martin Young

August 27, 2011Aug 27, 201148

Things have been a bit tough of late, the bad economy is starting to bite, and you’re feeling the pressure. To top it all, your body has been acting strangely in ways it never has before. Your muscles twitch in funny areas for hours at a time, you tire easily, and you have fleeting pins and needles in your limbs. Over the weeks these symptoms have become worse. The last …

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The trouble with Dr. Google

Patient voices

Articles, page 39

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