Comments about ‘Improving doctor-patient partnership means better outcomes’

In my experience, some doctors and nurses just assume you understand vague directions, such as "Take it easy for the next few weeks."

I heard that after each of my first five baby deliveries. It wasn't until the 6th that a very thorough doctor explained precisely what that meant. Until then I didn't know it was NOT normal to bleed for five weeks after delivering a baby. I'd been hemorrhaging after each of my deliveries because I did too much. Not once did a doctor tell me when my bleeding should stop.

Obviously my recovery with the last couple of children was far, far better, once I had better instructions.

Too much is assumed, on both the doctor's and the patient's sides.

As a primary care provider, I'd love nothing
more than being able to take the time necessary
To teach patients about their diagnoses and
Treatments and medications, but sadly in
Today's reality financially I cannot afford
To. The only way my office has been able to
Remain in operation is to lay off employees
And speed up the pace so that we can see
Enough patients to pay the bills. My pay is less
Than it was 3 years ago despite working harder
Because I have less help. Insurance premiums are
SkyrocKeting, while reimbursement to physicians
In prmary care increase more slowly than inflation.
There is no time or manpower or funding for us to do the
Things being mentioned in this article to improve
Patient relationships or compliance. Unless things
Drastically change, and doctors in primary care
Start getting compensated fairly to do what is
Being outlined here, and many more primary care
Doctors can be hired to care for everyone at
A pace more conducive to teaching patients,
This will never happen, even though we all know
It is best and what is needed to help Americak4
Health improve.

I really feel for you doc, but I'm sure your income well exceeds most others. As for the article, I have to say this: So many people are pushing the idea of paying teachers based on how well their students perform. Shouldn't we do the same for medical professionals? If their patients don't follow their advice and keep getting ill, or don't get better, shouldn't we pay them less? They obviously must not be effective at their job if their patients don't follow their advice. But do we do this? No. The more a patient gets sick, or the less they follow advice from trained professionals, the more they have to back to the doctor and the more the doctor gets paid.

"Man About Town" says it's getting harder to make money with the demands from insurance, etc. but it's the same for teachers. Everyone demands more from them, while wanting to find ways to pay them less.

I say we start paying medical professionals by how often patients come back for the same problems, how many cavities they get, how well they understand what the doctor or nurse tells them. How 'bout it congress?

There is a parallel here with the 'quantity vs quality time' parenting debate. There has to be a balance between the two. It's a problem when the quantity of time spent with children (or patients) becomes so small that the quality suffers.

Doctors are forced to make assumptions when time is severely limited that can affect patient care and outcomes. Increasing patient literacy can only go so far; taking the time to fully answer a patient's questions in office is what's problematic. Followup through phone or email would improve quality, but takes time that is not reimbursed. Until doctors are fairly compensated for the increased time it takes to actually counsel patients, the quantity of time will not increase, and quality of patient care will continue to suffer.

Doctors who otherwise would continue in practice are quitting rather than offer substandard care due to severe time constraints and overwhelming paperwork. It's a ridiculous and short-sighted policy on the part of both government and insurance companies.

Warm, fuzzy feeling drug ads are already giving us the solution. They give us the symptoms and the cure in 30 seconds. Except for the disclaimer. That's gotten so big we now have to go to a magazine or website. Anyway, all we have to do is buy in.