10 Things Doctors Wish They Could Tell Their Patients


 
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One of our favorite questions is "What is the one thing you wish you could say to your patients, but don't?" Over the years, we've gotten some sharp and telling answers, so we put together a list of our favorites.

1. No Smokes for you

Steven Nissen, MD: "If you continue to smoke, I would prefer that you see another physician."

2. Fool Me Once

Alice S.Y. Lee, MD: "I wish I can just tell the prescription drug addicts to stop coming to the ED for their fix, and they aren't fooling anyone."

3. Crazy Patient Love

Cy Stein, MD, PhD: "I really do care about you, but right at the moment you're driving me crazy."

4. Lesson For Your Kids

Mariell Jessup, MD: …”please tell your children to take care of themselves so they don't end up like you!"

5. Lose the Keyboard

Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH: "Stop surfing the Internet for health information -- most of that stuff is wrong!"

6. A Few Issues

Corey Slovis, MD: "Stop smoking, start walking, and decrease the amount of fried, rich, and creamy foods you eat to excess -- your shortness of breath, cough, knee pain, fatigue, adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea will all get dramatically better or will be cured."

7. Embrace the Pain

Lewis S. Nelson, MD: "I want to tell them that pain is a normal part of injury and healing, and that they should try to make peace with it."

8. Don't Do Those Drugs

Michael Holick, MD, PhD: "Medications that primary care doctors routinely give to their patients for treating osteoporosis are often not appropriate…"

9. Agony of The Feet

Kim Williams, MD: "If I had to pick out one very difficult conversation, it's one with a diabetic smoker. I actually look at their feet when I'm talking to them and I tell them WHY I'm looking at their feet: because the amputation rate is so high…"

10. Love Me and My Staff

Diana Bitner, MD: "The only thing that bothers me is when patients are late or are rude to my office staff -- who are trying their best to care for many patients at once. And I usually am intolerant of such behavior."


 
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COMMENTS

  • I have 10 things I\'d like to tell doctors: 1. Have someone answer your phone--even during lunch time. 2. On the weekends use an answering service. 3. Don\'t make me wait more than 1/2 an hour. 4. Let me tell you everything I think is wrong with me so you can make a good diagnosis. 5. Refill my prescriptions promptly when asked by the pharmacy. 6. Schedule me for 15 minutes and let me have my time to talk to you. I\'m willing to pay for your time. 7. Give me a cheaper prescription or the samples when you can. 8. Ask your nurse to be nice to me and give me eye contact. 9. Have enough office staff to fill out the forms that the insurance companies (particularly long & short term disability) without me having to beg you to get them in. 10. When a patient dies, take them out of your system. I didn\'t like numerous phone calls for my dead father to come in for a cancer hormone shot. I told you once, he died. Make a note.

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    • Editor-in Chief:
    • Theodore Massey
    • Editor:
    • Robert Sokonow
    • Editorial Staff:
    • Musaba Dekau
      Lin Takahashi
      Thomas Levine
      Cynthia Casteneda Avina
      Ronald Harvinger
      Lisa Andonis

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