Getting to Know Our Patients:
Mission Impossible?

by Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
Joined practice July 2006 of
John K Throckmorton, DPM
Lansing, Michigan

I have a dangerous mission for you, if you choose to accept it.  If you do then you have the potential to deepen your understanding of the human condition, improve your skills as a doctor, and increase your patient volume.  What is this impossible mission?  Getting to know your patients.

In today's medical environment we're pushed to see more and more patients in less and less time. Doctors are being paid less for the same services, forcing us to make the same level of income by seeing a larger volume of patients. My schedule is currently configured for me to see a patient every 10 minutes. To make matters worse I double book new patients with established patients. This lets me see a follow-up patient while the staff is processing a new patient.

I ask you this: how well can I get to know a patient in 10 minutes?  I’ll let you answer that for yourself.  It can be difficult but not impossible to connect with patients in a meaningful manner.

Last week I had a new patient in the office for palliative care.  I looked at the chart before going into the room thinking it would be a run-of-the-mill nail and callus trimming.  I opened the door and met a very friendly 90 year-old man with PAD and onychomycosis.  The rest of his medical history is unimportant because for the next 15 minutes I became engrossed in my patient, not his feet.  He spent his time with me talking about his wife who had died one year ago at the age of 89, and about his career as a carpenter. 

It’s important to get to know your patients for a number of reasons.  You’d better know them reasonably well if you’re planning elective surgery.  Are these the type of persons to walk all over your Lapidus bunionectomy?  Can they care for themselves after leaving the hospital?  Are they truly able to understand the plan enough to provide informed consent?  Will they follow-up with their postop appointments?  These are only a few of the issues you’ll need to have a grasp on to safely manage your patients.  Also remember that patients who like you are less likely to sue you. 

You’ll also find your patients generally more compliant and willing to attempt your treatment regimen if they’re comfortable with you.  When I walk into a room of a new patient I shake hands, smile, sit down so we’re at eye level, and make small talk for a minute.  This establishes a rapport that’s worth its weight in gold.  I give them a moment to meet me before plunging into NLDOCATs.

The days are past when you could be a technician, a surgeon--who cuts and leaves.  I have a lot of patients who’ve come to see me because their previous doctor was either rude or appeared uncaring.  Like it or not, medicine is a service industry.  Getting to know your patients will not only spiritually uplift you with its human contact but also protect you from malpractice suits and increase your practice volume and income.  It’s a challenge, but do get to know your patients; you’ll be better for it in the end.

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

 
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