12-10-2018, 07:53 AM
a bedside manner that is....hmmm...unique but for me the results are what matters
Doctors attend university and medical school for at least 8 years. Their student loans are probably in the neighborhood of half a million dollars. Their malpractice insurance can be more than 25% of their income. Take out taxes, take out school loan payments...
Then, they see a fair number of patients who come to them for help, but are not altogether truthful with the facts. I knew someone who resorted to accompanying her sick relative at all doctor appointments. She positioned herself directly behind the patient, and nodded or shook her head with the correct answers to the doctor's questions, so the patient could receive the proper treatment.
Sometimes for a doctor, determining what's wrong with a patient can be crap-shoot. "Do you smoke cigarettes? How many? It's just that your chest x-ray looks like - - well did you work in a coal mine before you moved to Hawaii? Do you consume any alcohol on a regular basis? Only socially and then limited to two bottles of beer? All right. Because you'll have to stop drinking all alcohol before the minor surgery we have scheduled for you next week, otherwise you could experience excess bleeding. Do you understand?"
???
"Now, statistically sir, you might be in the range of what we categorize as middle-range obesity. You have high blood pressure, and diabetes. Do you often eat at fast food restaurants, or consume high fat foods? OK, once a week? Is that right?"
Then, given the financial situation in East Hawaii, it's almost guaranteed doctors won't always get paid for their services.
All of that might affect my bedside manner too, if I were a doctor. As Kelana points out though, the results are the main reason we see a doctor. Given the shortage of medical professionals in East Hawaii, it's not in our best interest to scare any of them away.
Doctors attend university and medical school for at least 8 years. Their student loans are probably in the neighborhood of half a million dollars. Their malpractice insurance can be more than 25% of their income. Take out taxes, take out school loan payments...
Then, they see a fair number of patients who come to them for help, but are not altogether truthful with the facts. I knew someone who resorted to accompanying her sick relative at all doctor appointments. She positioned herself directly behind the patient, and nodded or shook her head with the correct answers to the doctor's questions, so the patient could receive the proper treatment.
Sometimes for a doctor, determining what's wrong with a patient can be crap-shoot. "Do you smoke cigarettes? How many? It's just that your chest x-ray looks like - - well did you work in a coal mine before you moved to Hawaii? Do you consume any alcohol on a regular basis? Only socially and then limited to two bottles of beer? All right. Because you'll have to stop drinking all alcohol before the minor surgery we have scheduled for you next week, otherwise you could experience excess bleeding. Do you understand?"
???
"Now, statistically sir, you might be in the range of what we categorize as middle-range obesity. You have high blood pressure, and diabetes. Do you often eat at fast food restaurants, or consume high fat foods? OK, once a week? Is that right?"
Then, given the financial situation in East Hawaii, it's almost guaranteed doctors won't always get paid for their services.
All of that might affect my bedside manner too, if I were a doctor. As Kelana points out though, the results are the main reason we see a doctor. Given the shortage of medical professionals in East Hawaii, it's not in our best interest to scare any of them away.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves