This happened to my wife and I recently.
We came for a visit and her usual doctor wasn’t available. This new doctor flat out said, “I didn’t get a chance to read your medical history so tell me what’s going on.” My wife was confused, because this was her third visit to check her hormone levels. it wasn’t a checkup, but a followup.
And this doctor proceeds to not understand any of this, as she keeps asking her questions about why she might be there, instead of spending two minutes reading the medical history.
My wife ends up crying while Im sitting in the corner begging my wife we should just leave because shes not getting anything from this doctor.
Like George Carlin said, somewhere there is the worst doctor and someone has an appointment with them tomorrow!
What do you call the person who was last in class at medical school?
…
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Doctor
Having been a paramedic for many years, I’ll take the 80% med student over the no bedside manner, no common sense, overly bookish student who can only think about what the book told them.
This is the third time I’ve read this comment today. I hope Joe Pesci or the sun aren’t trying to tell me something.
It’s a valid strategy to ask the patient to recap what brings them to the clinic. It’s very common to hear a different story from the one in the booking system or in the medical history. I’m not sure about the system were you live but medical history often takes waaaaaaaaaay more than 2 min to read up on. Maybe the last visit was recorded and had yet to been transcribed? Those can be a pain to listen to. It feels very reasonable that the doctor didn’t have time to read up on your history if they were covering for a sick/unavailable colleague.
I would 100% prefer a doctor that is upfront about not knowing my medical history over a (more commonly occurring) dumbass pretenting to know it.
It’s regrettable that your doctor made you feel neglected. Fault them for that, not the questions.
Edit: *recorded as in dictated!
Medical clinics are often overbooked, like airports. This is why they give you an appointment time that is generally thirty minutes early. ONE late person fucks the entire day’s schedule after their appointment time, that’s how tightly management insists on arranging it. Even the extra time slots of the past are being booked or even double booked in advance of the day. Docs are often given 10-15min per patient. Those other rooms you see in the hall? There are patients inside waiting for doc to go down the line, as staff keeps refilling those rooms down the line as the doc finishes. You think there’s time to read between? Oh you sweet summer child. That’s not on docs, that’s on corporate. Whatever company logo is stamped on the clinic and also on the nearby hospital, they’re the ones making it happen that way. Why? More patients crammed into each day means more $$$. Quantity over quality. Clinic docs are also paid by patient encounter. So this works together to arrange what we in healthcare commonly call a clusterfuck.
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This is the part that’s probably messing with you most. And it likely won’t change. In medical, the assessment is sacrosanct. And your own. You MUST do it yourself. You don’t just go with the assessment of the first person to do one and never check again, you always check again. Always. Every visit. A lot can change in half a day. A day. A week. A month. And the quality of assessment changes with each person. Each person. Medical isn’t robots, it’s people, and most data collection happens through people. Each medical staff, doc or NP or RN or PA, gets their own assessments before they begin, unless they’re utter garbage at their jobs. This doctor never assessed you before, which means, they MUST assess you now, per their licensing. Also, a good chunk of what’s in the chart is old news. What’s right in front of you contains the best data about the patients present state. And the speed at which a clinic is to move from patient to patient, 2 min to read a chart isn’t part of the schedule. Even logging in these days can take half that 10min time slot due to old crappy computers. Sure stuff like moms medical history, what tests you’ve had already, and meds (pharmacies e-record talks to your medical e-record these days) is current, but your present state changes day to day and asking YOU what’s happening today is usually best practice and the most accurate. There’s no day prep time to a clinic day and no one takes “homework” home after work. It’s hit the ground running and just start diving into appointments. When the doc knows the patient already ofc this goes more smoothly because the doc knows the bigger picture. That’s why there’s an assigned doc for each patient.
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All the NPs being trained makes the process more difficult. Heavy revolving door there as they do their version of residency and then poof they’re gone to find their actual job.
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Wait until you’re admitted to a hospital from an emergency room, you’ll be in for a real treat. /s.
For-profit medicine is a cruelty unlike any other. The United States government’s embrace of this system is truly abhorrent.
Somewhere, dunno where, there is a country where doctors in state medical institutions make less than me, get bullied by superiors daily, deal with all kind of bureaucratic paper fuckery, and yet show the heroism of not leaving that work for greener pastures in private medical institutions which pay normal. And they are conscious of that. Cause sometimes lonely old people, or clueless\lost\just poor people, or someone unprepared, need help.
Your system might not be good, but if you are thinking of building some other one, please think how it’s going to make doctor’s pay proportional to their value for the society, without tanking the rest of said society.
The doctor’s appointment is not a great example for the US because the system is so fucked. If the doctor is terrible, sit it out, and then request to never see them again. You don’t even have to say why (if/when the scheduler pressures you, just blame the free market: “my care will be better managed by someone else”). Because if you don’t like your healthcare in the US, you certainly can leave, but you will be stuck with the bill, and if it’s considered leaving “against medical advice,” you will be denied insurance coverage if you return for the same issue.
But also, make sure you have good reason to not like the doctor, regardless of financial implications. A doctor giving you bad news or making an honest but unflattering comment is an easy situation to want to leave, but bailing on that situation is not a good solution.
I’m not trying to say one should never take a stand, just that they should make sure of their reasoning before doing so.
Yeah, walking out would be more reserved for “why are you wearing that mask, don’t you know the pandemic is over?” or “don’t get (that vasectomy/your tubes tied, I know that you’ll change your mind later”.
Just basic science denial shit, or shoving somebody else’s culture down your throat while trying to pretend it’s compassion. Stuff that no competent doctor would do in the first place.
Oh of course, 100%. I wouldn’t suggest changing from providers for reasons other than really botched/mismanaged/negligent care. I don’t think everyone wants to give a reason to a scheduler for the switch because honestly they don’t need to know, and I would assume the patient is having conversations way above a scheduler’s level about any issues with a provider.
Idk “I’d rather you exercise and focus on a more nutritious diet than focus on a number on a scale or your pants. Let’s focus on getting you healthy so we aren’t just trading one eating disorder for another” is both the original meaning of that concept and probably the best approach for a doctor to take
I’ve been told at one office that they didn’t allow patients to switch doctors within the same practice. Currently, I live in a very small town, and am on Medicaid. I’ve been trying to switch to the only other practice in town (my current doctor has made 5+ screw-ups with medication, and has declined to write down my information and make requested referrals), but they’re dragging their heels. So I’m not holding my breath that it will be any better. Anyway, I guess my point, apart from the rant, is that the system is even more fucked than you say.
Hey, I’ve heard that one before, and big surprise, it was told to another Medicaid patient. It’s a lie that means “we don’t want our practice potentially making less money.” The provider probably doesn’t even know you were told that. I wish the gnarliest of 8th-dimensional waking nightmares on every admin who enables that bullshit.
Some areas are lucky enough to have Kaiser. It’s just a quick click and you have a new doctor of your choice. Though the rest of Kaiser is falling to shit
I was lucky enough to have Kaiser
And now I have a permanently fucked up knee because of them
Because if you don’t like your healthcare in the US, you certainly can leave, but you will be stuck with the bill, and if it’s considered leaving “against medical advice,” you will be denied insurance coverage if you return for the same issue.
Insurance is just a pain in general in the U.S. For instance some people might struggle to find a new doctor in their area if they’re dealing with a specialist and have specific insurance coverages which means cutting off their toxic doctor might be more difficult.
Burning bridges to escape toxicity is fine, just don’t strand yourself.
The doctor’s appointment is not a great example for the US
It’s a terrible idea for the first world too, as our system was overwhelmed by Mah Raghts hillbillies begging the doctor for a miracle and physically threatening them for trying to treat the problem. Many medical staff left from all branches and levels of care because Fuck This. Now we’re stuck with very little service availability, and the very politicians who supported the aggressive halfwits are now convincing them it was the incumbent politician’s fault. and they’re believing it. We’re gonna be led by little Trumps next year.
But remember most of all young adults: If you find yourself leaving often then the problem might be with you…
While true and valid, also remember that your community can be a problem, or you might be suffering from systemic issues. Not all issues stem from individuals, and some are impossible to solve on the personal level. If you find yourself in the cult, for example, walking away is probably the best you could do, despite the scorn of the community.
If you’re seeing your 5th counselor and 7th psych because you don’t want to make lifestyle changes and simultaneously want every stimulant to keep you up and downer so you can sleep… well… You’re not fun to be their doctor for.
Dark Helmet: What the hell am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie?
Colonel Sandurz: Now. You’re looking at now, sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now.
Dark Helmet: What happened to then?
Colonel Sandurz: We passed then.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now. We’re at now now.
Dark Helmet: Go back to then.
Colonel Sandurz: When?
Dark Helmet: Now.
Colonel Sandurz: Now?
Dark Helmet: Now.
Colonel Sandurz: I can’t.
Dark Helmet: Why?
Colonel Sandurz: We missed it.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now.
Dark Helmet: When will then be now?
Colonel Sandurz: Soon.
