Pamela Wible, MD

Articles, page 4

May 29, 2015May 29, 201517

Here’s the latest medical fad: Physician resiliency training. Huh? Doctors are already the most resilient people on the planet. Doctors can go days on call without eating. I know. I have. Doctors can go 24 hours without a bathroom break.…

Here’s the latest medical fad: Physician resiliency training.

Huh?

Doctors are already the most resilient people on the planet.

Doctors can go days on call without eating. I know. I have.

Doctors can go 24 hours without a bathroom break. (Yes, we even have the most resilient bladders!)

Doctors can work 168-hour shifts with little or no sleep as detailed in this whistleblower …

Physician voices

I encourage patients to fire me. Here’s why.

Pamela Wible, MD

May 12, 2015May 12, 201528

Not all relationships work out. My prescription: If a relationship isn’t working, end it. Now. Recently an insurance plan told me they were sending a nurse to my office for a chart review that would take 3 hours. After 24…

Not all relationships work out.

My prescription: If a relationship isn’t working, end it. Now.

Recently an insurance plan told me they were sending a nurse to my office for a chart review that would take 3 hours. After 24 years of education, state licensure, board certification, and over 50 hours of continuing medical education each year, I’m not trusted to provide Pap …

Physician voices

Doctor’s death an “inconvenience” for patients

Pamela Wible, MD

April 21, 2015Apr 21, 2015210

An investigation is underway after a Chicago-area doctor is found dead -- a suicide according to the medical examiner. What demands investigation is the callousness with which the this doctor’s death was reported by the media -- and received by…

An investigation is underway after a Chicago-area doctor is found dead — a suicide according to the medical examiner. What demands investigation is the callousness with which the this doctor’s death was reported by the media — and received by neighbors, many health care professionals themselves.

I’m alerted to the death initially by a Facebook friend: “Pamela, check this out!” Headline: …

Physician voices

Testifying in support of medical student mental health

Pamela Wible, MD

April 1, 2015Apr 1, 201514

The following is Dr. Pamela Wible's testimony in support of medical student mental health to the Missouri State Legislature for House Bill 867. I’m Dr. Pamela Wible, a family physician in Oregon. I’ve submitted my CV, witness form, and transcript…

The following is Dr. Pamela Wible’s testimony in support of medical student mental health to the Missouri State Legislature for House Bill 867.

I’m Dr. Pamela Wible, a family physician in Oregon. I’ve submitted my CV, witness form, and transcript of my testimony to Chairman Frederick. My schedule prevents me from traveling to Missouri for today’s hearing; however, I thank Vice Chairman Morris and the Committee for allowing me to …

Physician voices

It’s March 30th. Have you hugged your doctor?

Pamela Wible, MD

March 30, 2015Mar 30, 201549

I’m in a room full of doctors at my mom’s 50th medical school reunion when I announce, “It’s almost March 30th!” I pause. “Doesn’t anyone know what March 30th is?” Nobody has a clue. March 30th is National Doctors’ Day!…

I’m in a room full of doctors at my mom’s 50th medical school reunion when I announce, “It’s almost March 30th!” I pause. “Doesn’t anyone know what March 30th is?” Nobody has a clue.

March 30th is National Doctors’ Day! Who knew? I never heard of it — until a friend told me last week.

Veterans know about Veterans Day. Mothers know about …

Physician voices

Heart-wrenching photo of a doctor crying goes viral. Here’s why.

Pamela Wible, MD

March 20, 2015Mar 20, 2015156

Outside of a Southern California hospital, an ER doctor is crouched down against a concrete wall grieving the loss of his 19-year-old patient. A paramedic snaps a photo of the tender scene. His coworker, a close friend of the doctor, posts the photo (with permission) online. Minutes after the photograph, the doctor returns to work “holding his head high.”

Thousands of people have …

Physician voices

Assisted physician suicide: Are doctors killing doctors?

Pamela Wible, MD

March 9, 2015Mar 9, 201562

Standing on the edge of his hotel balcony, a doctor describes the rolling hills. He tells me, “It’s a beautiful place to die.” Ten minutes later, he agrees not to injure himself -- for now. I’m not running a physician…

Standing on the edge of his hotel balcony, a doctor describes the rolling hills. He tells me, “It’s a beautiful place to die.” Ten minutes later, he agrees not to injure himself — for now.

I’m not running a physician suicide hotline. But doctors keep calling me.

It’s midnight, and I’m speaking to a psychiatry intern. Bullied by residents and her attending, she …

Physician voices

Health care or abuse: Which are you receiving?

Pamela Wible, MD

March 1, 2015Mar 1, 2015163

A physician in Texas posts this photo on Facebook. Caption: “My schedule one morning in January 2014. Never again ...” Yay! Another physician breaks free from assembly-line medicine. High-overhead, high-volume offices sacrifice the sacred physicians-patient relationship and perpetuate a disease-billing…

A physician in Texas posts this photo on Facebook. Caption: “My schedule one morning in January 2014. Never again …”

Yay! Another physician breaks free from assembly-line medicine.

High-overhead, high-volume offices sacrifice the sacred physicians-patient relationship and perpetuate a disease-billing management system. This is not health care. It’s abuse.

Patients: Avoid clinics with 10-minute slots. Go for docs who offer 30 to 60-minute appointments. Physicians: …

Physician voices

What do patients really want from doctors?

Pamela Wible, MD

February 22, 2015Feb 22, 20155

Ever wonder what patients really want from doctors? Is it the fancy buildings with marble fountains? Is it the board certifications and diplomas on the wall? Is it the expert medical jargon and starched white coats? Nope. None of the…

pamela wible
Ever wonder what patients really want from doctors?

Is it the fancy buildings with marble fountains?

Is it the board certifications and diplomas on the wall?

Is it the expert medical jargon and starched white coats?

Nope. None of the above.

Listen up, docs: Patients just want the real you. Ya know — you. The competent and caring you who really listens with compassion. The real you …

Physician voices

How to get your doctor to do what you want

Pamela Wible, MD

February 18, 2015Feb 18, 201512

Sick of phone trees, endless refill requests, packed waiting rooms, out-of-control bills, and other medical misadventures? Follow these seven simple steps to get your doctor to do what you want. 1. Get organized. Be clear about what you need from…

Sick of phone trees, endless refill requests, packed waiting rooms, out-of-control bills, and other medical misadventures?

Follow these seven simple steps to get your doctor to do what you want.

1. Get organized. Be clear about what you need from your appointment. Make a comprehensive list of all the issues you want to discuss — and your ideal outcomes for each. Patients who are …

Physician voices

7 secrets to keep loyal patients for life

Pamela Wible, MD

February 9, 2015Feb 9, 20159

Loyal patients are the lifeblood of a medical clinic. And devoted patients are worth their weight in gold. It’s a lot easier to care for an established patient that lots of one-timers who never return. Beyond ease of workflow, the economic benefits are fabulous. A loyal patient panel will stay with you (and pay you) through sickness and in health …

Physician voices

Medical conferences feel like funerals. Here’s why.

Pamela Wible, MD

January 27, 2015Jan 27, 201517

A friend just got back from a big medical conference at a fancy hotel. The cleaning ladies actually pulled her aside to ask, “What’s with all the grim faces and sad eyes?” Do doctors realize medical conferences look like funerals?…

A friend just got back from a big medical conference at a fancy hotel. The cleaning ladies actually pulled her aside to ask, “What’s with all the grim faces and sad eyes?”

Do doctors realize medical conferences look like funerals? That’s what the cleaning ladies think. I bet they’re not the only ones.

Why do medical conferences feel like funerals? Maybe because doctors …

Physician voices

A doctor wants to leave medicine to sell Tupperware

Pamela Wible, MD

December 21, 2014Dec 21, 201445

Dear Pamela: I can’t tell if I’m burned out or just don’t like being a doctor. My own medical school experience was so abusive. I wonder how other students like me fare when they enter abusive residency programs. I supposedly…

A letter received by Pamela Wible, MD.

Dear Pamela:

I can’t tell if I’m burned out or just don’t like being a doctor. My own medical school experience was so abusive. I wonder how other students like me fare when they enter abusive residency programs. I supposedly work at a place that values patients above all else, but it feels like everyone is …

Physician voices

End the human rights abuse of medical students and doctors

Pamela Wible, MD

December 2, 2014Dec 2, 201413

This courageous physician blows a whistle on the human rights abuse in hospitals. Doctors forced to work 8 consecutive days. No sleep. No access to food. Doctor forced to work in ICU after having seizure. Is this the care you…

Full transcript:

The hospital administration and the national hospitalist company that I worked for made this agreement that the shifts would be 24 hours. And they would …

Physician voices

Physician suicide 101: Secrets, lies and solutions

Pamela Wible, MD

November 13, 2014Nov 13, 2014266

Why did you go to medical school? I’m a family physician born into a family of physicians. My parents warned me not to pursue medicine. So I went to medical school. Ten years later, I’m unhappy with the direction of…

This article adapted from a lecture presented by Pamela Wible, MD, at the 2014 American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Washington DC.

Why did you go to medical school?

I’m a family physician born into a family of physicians. My parents warned me not to pursue medicine. So I went to medical school. Ten years later, I’m unhappy with the direction …

Physician voices

Pamela Wible: A eulogy to her father

Pamela Wible, MD

October 22, 2014Oct 22, 201445

I believe we choose our parents before we are born. I hit the jackpot. I picked an unlikely pair -- a radical feminist and a guy named Ted Krouse. Mom wasn’t home much (she was finishing up her psychiatry residency)…

I believe we choose our parents before we are born. I hit the jackpot.

I picked an unlikely pair — a radical feminist and a guy named Ted Krouse. Mom wasn’t home much (she was finishing up her psychiatry residency) so I became head of the household. Dad always kowtowed to the strongest woman in the room. I was two at the …

Read more…

Pamela Wible: A eulogy to her father

Medical education

Bambi Syndrome saved my life

Pamela Wible, MD

September 10, 2014Sep 10, 2014243

Pet Goats and Pap Smears. Life changes in a heartbeat. In the “Events of the Cardiac Cycle” lab, four students are assigned to each dog. Instructions: Inject the live dog with epinephrine and study the EKG. Sever cardiac nerves. Carve…

An excerpt from Pet Goats and Pap Smears.

Life changes in a heartbeat.

In the “Events of the Cardiac Cycle” lab, four students are assigned to each dog. Instructions: Inject the live dog with epinephrine and study the EKG. Sever cardiac nerves. Carve open the chest and shock the heart. As the dog’s blood pressure drops, remove the heart. Now, stab …

Read more…

Bambi Syndrome saved my life

Physician voices

When your health insurer pays for breakfast, here’s what happens

Pamela Wible, MD

September 5, 2014Sep 5, 201418

Health insurance is complex. Eating out is easy -- unless you were to involve your health insurance company. If you hired a third party to pay your restaurant bill, you’d pay twice as much, wait 2 weeks for a table,…

Health insurance is complex. Eating out is easy — unless you were to involve your health insurance company.

If you hired a third party to pay your restaurant bill, you’d pay twice as much, wait 2 weeks for a table, and have 7 minutes to eat.

I shared my restaurant analogy on a LinkedIn …

Physician voices

Top 10 ways to know it’s time to quit your job as a doctor

Pamela Wible, MD

August 21, 2014Aug 21, 2014239

Attention all doctors: The first three are mine. The rest are from miserable colleagues. All true. And common. If you’re a doctor and you recognize anything on this list, please quit your job. 10. You feel nauseated when you see…

Attention all doctors: The first three are mine. The rest are from miserable colleagues. All true. And common. If you’re a doctor and you recognize anything on this list, please quit your job.

10. You feel nauseated when you see your clinic logo; you alter your commute to avoid streets with your clinic’s billboard.

9. Discouraged by the general despair among staff, you …

Physician voices

Drop doctorspeak and get real with patients

Pamela Wible, MD

August 14, 2014Aug 14, 201462

If you’re a doctor, I bet you speak doctorly. You act doctorly. And dress doctorly. And spend your days in clinic with other doctorly doctors. But life is what happens while you’re busy staring at computerized flow sheets, algorithms, and…

If you’re a doctor, I bet you speak doctorly. You act doctorly. And dress doctorly. And spend your days in clinic with other doctorly doctors.

But life is what happens while you’re busy staring at computerized flow sheets, algorithms, and billing codes.

Real life happens outside of man-made medical institutions. Patients live in the real world. And I always wanted be a real …