Here's the "yes" side. The Internet does provide a lot of useful information that may supplement what we teach patients through our limited office contact. Being part of a blog may provide the interested patient with experiential information. That is, they can gather the experiences of a vast array of patients about their individual cases. This is an unthreatening way for patients to find out what they may encounter during and after their surgery (or other therapies, as the case may be) from a community of people with like experiences.

Here's the "no" side. How much of the information on the internet is pure junk? Quite a bit. In fact, how much poor information from other sources do your patients receive outside of your office? Quite a bit. I'll give you two examples to illustrate my point:

"Doctor, I have these painful bunions. I heard they come from wearing
bad shoes.

"Doctor, my primary care physician says my heel pain is from spurs."

We've all seen these common misconceptions. I spend quite a bit of time re-educating patients who've been misinformed.

Additionally, as we all know, every individual's experience of any given treatment regimen (including surgery) is just that: individual. It's very difficult to predict, say, a patient's pain level postop. So, when one person on the internet blog says bunion surgery is painful, that may not be true for a different person. Everyone's experience is unique.

Given this good and bad situation, I consider myself simply another resource, but one with a different slant. We, as physicians, are the authorities when it comes to the foot and ankle. We know the science and art behind medical care. We pay close attention to the research. We have the day to day experience to know what works and what doesn't. We can objectively provide our patients the accurate and balanced information they need to make their own informed decisions.

Finally, I often refer my patients to outside resources I have faith in. For instance, I often point patients to the APMA and ACFAS websites in addition to preprinted information in the office. Some physicians have practice websites to refer their patients to. Whatever method you choose, realize it's your responsibility to educate your patients. Ask yourself, where are your patients getting their information?

Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT New Docs Editor
[email protected]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

***Balancing Family***

One of my attendings always used to say it's very important not to love something that cannot love you back. At the time, as a resident, the point was lost on me. Without question, our public trust is important, but learning to balance it with a personal life of some sort is challenging to say the least. I recommend two books on the subject:

The Successful Physician, By Zaslove

Starting a Medical Practice, from the AMA Press

--Bill J. Metaxas, DPM
www.drmetaxas.com
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***Balancing Family***

Being able to balance career and family is an ART. However, it is a task that is possible.. depending on the type of practice you have will determines whether or not your able to balance the two. If you look at most of the prominent and success surgeons that are on the lecture circuit, they are married with children... so if they can do it with a busy traveling schedule, then it can be done for someone who isn't that involved with lecturing and traveling.

--Damieon Brown, DPM
Advanced Foot Care
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