Ybarra on Dr/patient relationship

My best clinical shifts are the ones where I know that I am on the same page as my patient and I make clinical decisions incorporating principals of shared decision-making. Emergency medicine presents a unique challenge to the doctor/patient relationship. The first challenge is that patients almost never “want” to be in the emergency department (ED). They typically come reluctantly because they are in need of help for their acute medical problem. The second challenge is the ED is a chaotic environment. Most patients are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people, the beeping of loud monitors and the wait times. Finally, emergency physicians have the unique task of establishing a critical relationship with a patient who is essentially a stranger. Within the first 30 seconds of walking into a room, I need to establish a relationship that will last beyond the confines of the four walls of the ED. Most patients go home after their ED visit and must trust my judgment and recommendations such that they take the medications I prescribe, follow the instructions I give, or make appointments with the specialists that I refer them to. All of this is in the context that our paths will unlikely cross again, and yet a good doctor/patient relationship sets these plans in place and the patient trusts me, their doctor, enough to see them through. Shared decision-making to me is not about patients dictating care. Many providers get frustrated when patients expect that certain tests will be ...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news