Appointment ……..disappointment!

16 years 3 months ago #12005 by Stephany
Replied by Stephany on topic Appointment ……..disappointment!
You're very welcome. I am learning from everything you post. I never thought of taping. I'm usually writing as fast as I can, so I can recite back to my husband, who only hears about half of what the doctor says, because he's thinking about the first things he heard.

Happy New Year to you, too. My son helped me get dinner ready for the oven, and we're just waiting for the ham to get a little further along.

Stephany in Iowa

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16 years 3 months ago #12004 by Melodie
Replied by Melodie on topic Appointment ……..disappointment!
Stephany,

Very interesting data and I would agree....the first two visits I had with my surgeon, I taped our visits...later when I read his notes, he had listed that he spent 40 minutes with me when in fact he has spent 20 mins. which I can prove by my tape...he either believed he spent 40 mins. or he was fudging to make it look good, the other 20 mins. I spent waiting...one of the doctors still in training came in and talked with me casually but I don't think that should be counted in that 40 mins. visit I had with the surgeon. The doctor also stated on his notes that "patient asks lots of questions" yet the tape doesn't affirm that he addressed all my concerns.

Yet I have to admit, amazingly there was one doctor that I called one day that treated a male friend...left a message with his receptionist...the doctor called me back later that same day, about 6:30 p.m. and spent a good 30 minutes with me, responding to my questions so I do know it is possible for doctors to have a more human side. I would have liked this doctor to do my surgery but he was in fact going on a 3 month vacation and I didn't feel I could put off my surgery that long.

In regard to where I was treated, I wrote a very complimentary letter to the hospital in regard to my treatment during my stay in the hospital, but also wrote a complaint letter about the lack of proper follow up care. I did get a letter telling me they would investigate and and get back with me...they supposidly did but I am not satisfied with their response to me. I plan another letter...may not make a difference but I would like to see them improve and if not, the very least they could do is to pass on to the patients a list of worthy websites like this forum so the patients have someone to help them in their recovery efforts. Thanks Stephany for helping me to realize I too need to keep pushing some of the medical folks so that others coming behind us have an easier time of it. Take care and have a Happy New Year! Melodie

Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright

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16 years 3 months ago #12000 by Stephany
Replied by Stephany on topic Appointment ……..disappointment!
Maria, all I can say right now is, thanks for holding on! You are so right to keep us updated and informed about your encounter with the roadblocks and setbacks. I could cite chapter and verse of several "doctor" problems from my past history, but I can also say that only by pressing on will you get satisfaction.

I heard a good phrase last week while in one of the hospital "waiting rooms." It was <adult-onset stupidity>. Perhaps this would explain the way surgeons lose their ability to speak with patients as their surgery skills develop.

I followed up on a radio program quote, and found an interesting statistic this week. Patients during a doctor's appointment are interrupted by the doctor on the average of 35 seconds into the discussion, but that if the doctor did not interrupt, the diagnosis would present itself in 39 seconds.

Also, Doctors underestimate the amount of information patients want and overestimate how much they actually give. In one study of 20-minute office visits, doctors spent about 1 minute per visit informing patients but believed they were spending 9 minutes per visit doing so.

Doctors who can’t communicate are more likely to end up in court. An analysis of 45 malpractice cases found that many of the doctors being sued delivered information poorly and devalued the patient’s views.

and, if you can take one more: Speaking and Interruptions During Primary Care Office Visits
Donna R. Rhoades, PhD; Kay F. McFarland, MD; W. Holmes Finch, MEd; Andrew O. Johnson

Background: Patients and physicians value effective communication and consider it an essential part of the medical encounter. This study examined physician-patient communication patterns, and interruptions in communication, during patient visits with family practice and internal medicine residents. Methods: Observational data obtained from 60 routine primary care office visits included the time that resident physicians and patients spoke and the number and types of interruptions. A total of 22 family practice and internal medicine residents participated, 9 from family practice and 13 from internal medicine. Results: Patients spoke, uninterrupted, an average of 12 seconds after the resident entered the room. One fourth of the time, residents interrupted patients before they finished speaking. Residents averaged interrupting patients twice during a visit. The time with patients averaged 11 minutes, with the patient speaking for about 4 minutes. Computer use during the office visit accounted for more interruptions than beepers. Verbal interruptions, a knock on the door, beeper interruptions, and computer use all interfered with communication, and increased frequency of interruptions are associated with less favorable patient perceptions of the office visit. Female residents interrupted their patients less often than did male physicians. All residents interrupted female patients more often than male patients. Early and increased interruptions were associated with patients’ perception that they should have talked more. Third-year residents interrupted patients less frequently than did first-year residents. Conclusions: Numerous interruptions occurred during office visits. Gender was associated with the pattern of interruptions. Physicians frequently interrupted patients before the patients were finished speaking. Computer use also interrupted physician-patient communication.

Once, I actually tried to report a rude doctor to the head of the department, only to learn that he WAS the head of the department. Once, I reported that an ultrasound technician was unskilled and her exam was much more painful than necessary, and nothing was done.

But, I kept going, and eventually got answers. Now that the internet is so active, we have each other, and we can support each other, which is what this list is all about.

Keep pushing, keep trying, and keep a positive attitude. Not about the doctors of the past, but the doctors of the future.

Stephany in Iowa


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16 years 3 months ago #11997 by Melodie
Replied by Melodie on topic Appointment ……..disappointment!
Maria,

So many of us have been through something similiar...I agree with Pat, with your education and directness, this doctor may have been intimidated but that isn't your fault...it's his for disregarding the rights of the patient...as I see it, many of the the doctors are over booked with patients but we as patients deserve answers to our questions...WE, thru our insurance ARE PAYING THE BILLS....WE ARE THE CUSTOMERS!

I selected a surgeon who was the head of the Urology Dept. at a major teaching hospital...my first visit, 20 minutes and he did "OK" in responding to questions, although that early in the game, I didn't know what all to ask...PRIOR to my next visit, I took the time to write him a letter detailing all my concerns....next visit he spent 10 minutes with me, was called to surgery, never responded to my letter...next time I saw him was 5 minutes prior to my surgery as I INSISTED I WOULD NOT GO INTO SURGERY WIHOUT SEEING HIM PRESENT....then 3 days after my surgery, he raced in and out of my hospital room in less than 5 minutes. Now, I know he is very knowledgable and very well respected in his field but I was sadly mistakened in thinking I would have has full attention...since it is a teaching hospital, he turned me over to a "medical team"...and one of the other doctors would have to respond to my concerns...all fairly new doctors. And of course, none of them have lived thru the surgeries we face. MY BEST SOURCE OF INFO. CAME VIA THIS FORUM......so for those of you who continue to monitor this website, GOD BLESS YOU....my sincere thanks! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL. Melodie

Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright

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16 years 3 months ago #11975 by Maria
Replied by Maria on topic Appointment ……..disappointment!
Joe, I don't know what you mean by saying 'be nice' I am nice :P
I can be assertive and straight talking if I need to. When we left I asked my husband if I was rude to the doc ............. my husband will tell me straight. He said I was not, I communicated straight and to the point. If I had of been rude I would have probably wrote a letter of apology. But that is not the case here.

This is what I was told would happen on my new patient visit:
To give all of our patients the individual attention they need, you can expect to spend from two to four hours at the Cancer Center during your first visit. Your visit may include appointments with several specialists as well as laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures, which often require delays so that those results can be processed and provided to your primary oncologist. The length of future visits will depend on treatments ........

Pat sent me an early Christmas present ......... we are onto a good surgeon and I will be contacting him asap.

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16 years 3 months ago #11973 by Joe M
Replied by Joe M on topic Appointment ……..disappointment!
If he was too busy, he should have had another surgeon come and talk to you.

Call to make another appointment, and tell them you want answers, and the time to get answers.
Do this quickly, not only with the DR that was busy, but with a few other urology clinics you can access.

He should have rescheduled a longer appointment, knowing what you came in for.
That may be the receptionists fault, but call back and explain what you expected and didn't get.

They usually will start hoop jumping for you.

Be nice, at the second meeting, and if they make it in a few weeks or month, go elsewhere.
Get your answers now, not when they find time.
They should know time is a crticial factor already.

And toliet paper the Dr's car in the parking lot, if you can find it!

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