Re: Why Doctors Run Late

[Guest guest]

I remember hearing about a study of hospitalized patients. The study evaluated the patient's sense of being heard and the clinician being rushed. When the clinician took the time to sit down in the room with the patient, the patient was much more likely to report that they were 'heard' and report that the clinician was not rushed.Sometimes when I feel rushed I remember this study and sit down and look the patient in the eye. I remember not to look at the clock (I gave up wearing a watch: there are clocks everywhere and looking at your watch is a major no-no).I also remember the study (I think Ron Epstein was the PI) that told us that if you let your patients talk until they run out of things to say they will wrap it up within three minutes, and often bring out the full agenda. When I fall into the trap of being rushed I also fall into the typical "I know where this is heading and will jump in here...." mode that interrupts patients after around 18 seconds on average and blocks the full agenda. It turns out that the interrupting mode leaves patients feeling like they are not heard and ends up with more bombshell comments as your hand is on the doorknob "I am having chest pain." "Is it normal to have blood in the toilet?" etc.There are days any of us are slammed, but the probability of hamster wheel care is minuscule compared to a more typical practice working on pure 'productivity.'GordonAgreed.Sometimes it’s a calm, unrushed style that puts you behind and you aren’t feeling stressed at all. Not everybody freaks out with being behind.