Posted by femlite on November 6, 2003, at 11:30:42
In reply to Jagged Little Pill - Today's Practice of Medicine, posted by AnneL on November 5, 2003, at 9:45:53
Its point number 6 that makes a cynic out of me. During a phone call to my last pdoc, on the day I called to find out why I was falling hysterically apart 5 hours after taking adderall, I was told by the secretary , "He has patients back to back till 8pm this evening and I will give him your message" He actually did call me back to rudely tell me he "couldnt spend all day on the phone with his patients"
Why, in Gods name would a doctor schedule so many patients in one day. I can guess, but maybe you can shed some light on my absolutly cynical assumptions. Most docs are the same.
Is it REALLY to pay those high insurance premiums?
I know I dont have a new car and little prospect of owning one. And my husband makes good money. We make sacrifices, like my staying home with the kids because its what we believe in.
If the the health care profession is in such a continuous decline of altruism, what hope do we have?
As cynical as my view may seem, these are not rhetorical questions.
I deeply appreciate your reply> In my over 25 years of being part of the healthcare profession - and believe me it dosen't matter whether the specialty is cardiology or psychiatry, even the very best physicians, those I define as truly having the best interests of their patients at "heart", do the following:
>
> 1. Make mistakes;
> 2. Do not spend sufficient time with their
> patients;
> 3. Don't like certain "types" of patients;
> 4. Rely heavily on their underlings to make
> sure their mistakes are caught;
> 5. Spend enormous amounts of time keeping
> their referring docs "happy";
> 6. Have unrealistic patient loads which creates
> problem number 2 in the first place;
> 7. Get frustrated just like you and I when
> they can't solve a problem;
> 8. Prescribe "something" to get you out of the
> office and then they will "deal" with it
> at the next visit;
> 9. Think that you are a "great" patient when
> something "works" well;
> 10. May have something on their mind that does not
> include YOU at your scheduled appointment!
>
> So we agree that there is no magic pill and many can be quite "jagged". (Ace will certainly disagree with me and I will gladly concede this point - just for him!) The point to all of this?
>
> 1. We are "consumers" - we swallow that jagged
> little pill, right?
> 2. In many instances, you, yes that's right YOU
> may know more than your MD about certain Meds.
> 3. Finding a good heart doctor is easier than
> finding a good shrink.
> 4. If your shrink stinks, fire him and move on!
> 5. Above all, use your built-in intuition if you
> you do not feel that your interests are high
> on your doctor's list of priorties.
>
> My opinions are expressly my own and I take responsibility for everything I have said. AnneL
>
poster:femlite
thread:273502
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277158.html