Comments on: Time pressures = antibiotic overuse? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html#comment-67005 Anonymous Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html#comment-67005 How do I get my family practice to not give me placebo antibiotics?<br/><br/>I don't get to have a relationship with a specific doctor at the family practice I go to. It's a different doctor every time.<br/><br/>I am happy to be told that antibiotics are not appropriate. I am not insured, and I would prefer not to pay for or take antibiotics that I don't need. <br/><br/>However I have the suspicion that on one or two occasions I have been prescribed antibiotics as a placebo.<br/><br/>I'm not particularly upset about this. My mother is a Physician's Assistant and I sympathize with the difficulties doctors labor under these days.<br/><br/>However, I would love any advice/suggestions on how I can address this issue (remember, different doctor almost every time) in a way that won't cause defensiveness, resentment, or distrust of my motives.<br/><br/>-Courteous Patient How do I get my family practice to not give me placebo antibiotics?

I don’t get to have a relationship with a specific doctor at the family practice I go to. It’s a different doctor every time.

I am happy to be told that antibiotics are not appropriate. I am not insured, and I would prefer not to pay for or take antibiotics that I don’t need.

However I have the suspicion that on one or two occasions I have been prescribed antibiotics as a placebo.

I’m not particularly upset about this. My mother is a Physician’s Assistant and I sympathize with the difficulties doctors labor under these days.

However, I would love any advice/suggestions on how I can address this issue (remember, different doctor almost every time) in a way that won’t cause defensiveness, resentment, or distrust of my motives.

-Courteous Patient

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html#comment-66885 Anonymous Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:24:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html#comment-66885 I'm not a social worker, I'm running a crazy over-run assembly line. I can't have pts. sit in my ER waiting for a strep screen to come back when there are 50 more in the waiting room just waiting to come back. I just give them all penicillin. Alas, if the patient bounces back, at least I did "all I could" to ward off the future lawyers out there. I’m not a social worker, I’m running a crazy over-run assembly line. I can’t have pts. sit in my ER waiting for a strep screen to come back when there are 50 more in the waiting room just waiting to come back. I just give them all penicillin. Alas, if the patient bounces back, at least I did “all I could” to ward off the future lawyers out there.

]]> By: RJShttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html#comment-66870 RJS Thu, 07 Sep 2006 23:15:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/09/time-pressures-antibiotic-overuse.html#comment-66870 Alas, with my lack of time, I've been putting off a similar article for a few weeks.<br/><br/>I'm thinking that many doctors are prescribing antibiotics as placebo for patients who feel "entitled" to a prescription simply because they come to a doctor's office. It's easier than fighting with a patient, and in many cases, by the time something like a Z-pak is coming to an end, the patient's immune system has naturally fought off virus du jour.<br/><br/>This seems to be a problem quite prevalent in college towns. Alas, with my lack of time, I’ve been putting off a similar article for a few weeks.

I’m thinking that many doctors are prescribing antibiotics as placebo for patients who feel “entitled” to a prescription simply because they come to a doctor’s office. It’s easier than fighting with a patient, and in many cases, by the time something like a Z-pak is coming to an end, the patient’s immune system has naturally fought off virus du jour.

This seems to be a problem quite prevalent in college towns.

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