Dear Doctor
Why must you interrupt? I am not verbose and had almost finished my short account. I don’t take long, and I really wanted to say it all, but you did interrupt, so I never got to tell you that I was still somewhat shaky at night. I know that you got the gist and that you had all of the trusty test results, but people want to tell their stories and be heard.
I know that those extra fifteen seconds of my narrative wouldn’t have changed the prognosis or prescription, but I wanted to say my few words anyway and in my way.
Sincerely
John
And now, put that in the mail and send it to him or her.
ReplyDeleteI've seen studies that show the average listening period, from a doctor who has asked a patient to describe their symptoms, is -- 18, not a typo, seconds. I left a doctor who interrupted, ridiculed and generally acted badly for one, a woman, who listens to the end of my sentence!
ReplyDeleteMy doctor is a woman, and she is efficient, but she ticked me off yesterday. There’s a bit of a shortage. Here, so if we have a family doctor, we hang on for better or for worse.
DeleteI am actually a bit surprised it reaches 18 seconds…. at least from my experience. It seems shorter whenever I have talked to a doctor. (sigh)
DeleteDoctor in mother-in-law's hospital room, to interrupting nurse: "That's not what she was asking."
ReplyDeleteNurse: "Well, she was going to!"
Good grief.
DeleteDoesn't make you feel very confident that the doctor was even listening to what you did say, since they were thinking of what they wanted to say before they interrupted you. Time for a new doctor?
ReplyDeleteDoing the math, those 15 seconds probably cost the doctor 83 cents. Average in 16 patients a day and that is 4 minutes of time and $13.33 which might buy them a fairly nice coffee or two.
ReplyDeleteI finally found one who listens. She's is a PA and she is considerate. That has not been my past experience.
ReplyDeleteOh that's the word I couldn't think of today...verbose. I gave up and just texted that the nurse talked a lot. A phone call lasted 40 minutes and I finally told her I needed to phone someone she'd referred me to. I'm sorry your Dr. did a "shut out" of your important information. Maybe if my nurse called you.... HA! No, we'll have her call your Dr.!!
ReplyDeleteNot a good experience.
ReplyDeleteAs a physician's nurse, I was given the task of returning patient's phone calls either at lunchtime or evening. The doctor rarely spoke to them unless I insisted. Basically I was a PA. I always let the patient tell me everything! If I didn't, 9 xs out of ten I'd get a midnight call and that's never fun. Todays treatment calls are pushy and sometimes rude. They just want "bottom line". Just let them know you won't be pushed off...you still have information for them...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you were "canned". (they feel they have all the info they need to prescribe or inform).
hugs
Donna
That would be frustrating. I'm quite verbose and sometimes am too chatty and don't manage to get to the actual point. (medical issue)
ReplyDeleteThis is so important! Thank you so much for sharing so clearly, AC
ReplyDeleteListening is respect. You are heard here.
ReplyDeleteDang it, I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteListening can make all the difference to a better outcome.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, sounds like they need some doctor/patient retraining.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that. Might be time for a new doctor? Or perhaps he/she was just having a rough day.
ReplyDeleteThat is a common practice.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been frustrating! I’m to the point now that if I am feeling that way, I will say so to that person. It often helps but I hate having to do it.
ReplyDeleteA doctor who really listens is a gem.
ReplyDeleteSome people think they know it all. My doctor listens but has an accent that is hard to understand.
ReplyDeleteLucky me, I actually do have a doctor [s] that listen for some reason. My PA and I have known each other for 28 years, so she knows me quite well.
ReplyDeleteFor some odd reason, it seems the doctors in my area in the small clinic take time for their patients.
We have not seen a doctor for routine checkups in over 20+ years but do go to a medical office for routine checkups and other matters. To explain more, we switched to a nurse practitioner both in VA and NH, both females, who always take more time to listen to our concerns and answer questions. Perhaps, your system is different?
ReplyDeleteThat's not good. It doesn't save time and it doesn't build confidence.
ReplyDeleteThe first problem in UK is actually speaking to a doctor. Lately, it's a pharmacist. Luckily, so far, we haven't needed much medical intervention . . .
GPs are limited here in some areas. We are fortunate to have one. She gets things done. I was just feeling a little put out at the time.
DeleteIt is a problem. Joe does tend to go on with our GP. I try to steer him to being succinct.
ReplyDeleteA doctor who listens is a blessing.
ReplyDelete