Blogs amplify the power of hospital critics

in Uncategorized | 14 responses

Physician and hospital critics are starting to sprout in the blogosphere. Carol Kirschner and Dale Hunscher examine the damaging impact.

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universal health
A CEO of a major medical center in New England started his own blog and took a tone of false humility in deigning to speak with the “common people.” A statewide patient advocacy group sought his comment on their blog, where, surprise, he couldn’t edit unvaorable comments, and his tone took on a haughty, condescending and dismissive tone. Politely confronted, and still requesting answers to healthcare questions, the CEO just stopped responding.
http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/
http://blog.hcfama.org/?cat=9
Without their trusty marketing people who prepare and filter all messages, hospitals don’t appear to be nimble at genuineness in responding to patient concerns – even with stellar Press-Ganey scores! (snark)
I take my own lumps at my blog, Universal Health http://www.universalhealth.wordpress.com
Anonymous
Dr. Pho, people don’t have to visit those sites to get a view of what some of the medical profession represent.
There isn’t a patient around that visits your blog that doesn’t understand that medicine has its problems and it’s problem makers.
We hear how Drs. actually hate patients, how some of them are thrilled to give someone a deadly diagnosis..How they abuse the health system and ins companies, by ordering all these unnecessary tests and procedures. So yes, some of the medical blogs themself play a role in dmaging the medical profession.
You can blow me off, which Im certain you will, but in all honesty, I never knew this of the medical community, until I began to read here. Many of us have always held doctors to a higher standard because we felt they were deserving of it.
It is not just your enemies causing problems, or being responsible for patients losing respect for physicians. They are accomplishing that quite well all by themselves.
Anonymous
The internet, by design, allows anyone “instant expert” status on any issue they wish to rant about.
As with any form of communication, there will always be “junk signals” (the digital equivalent of junk mail, telemarketer calls during supper, stupid TV shows and lousy DJs, I guess).
Just like conusmers can watch television, read a newspaper, or listen to the radio and decide if the opinions expressed are worthwhile, so can internet users.
Legend is that my great-great Grandfather died because he refused to go the hospital because “city people go there to die.”
Anyone who wishes to return to 18th century logic because of a few scary wbe pages should be allowed to.
Anonymous
Wow, universal health, I really have to wonder what on earth you are talking about and why you have chosen to characterize my comments with such negative terms.
I have responded to many of the disagreements on my site, and I even invited them on the Health Care for All site.
Anyway, people can judge for themselves by viewing both sites.
And, by the way, I write all my own postings, and my staff gets to see them exactly when you do.
Dr. Mary Johnson
Kevin, as a physician formerly in public service, I’m on the web and in the blogosphere because I’ve got no where else to go.
As a patient, I’ve been the victim of malpractice TWICE at this hospital (once as a child, once as an adult/employee). I DID NOT SUE.
In spite of my bad experience as a child, I came home to try and make things better. But I was professionally butchered . . . by liars and cheats in suits with no concept of medical ethics or the cannons of the Oath. My practice was destroyed (because my continued presence in the community as an independent was an economic threat to the hospital). When I dared to fight back, my reputation was viciously attacked (by a despicable/unsuccessful SLAPP suit).
The government I served faithfully and well did next to NOTHING to help me. Neither did/have our so-called medical “advocacy” organizations.
The local press has ignored the case I’m pleading now (perjury/contempt and fraud charges against the hosptial CEO and his VP).
Oversight of “non-profits” in North Carolina is a joke. Local and state law enforcment have buried/ignored the case. It’s all about how much money you have and who you know. Right and wrong have nothing to do with it.
People like me are here because WE’RE FURIOUS and we’re not going to take it anymore!
I’d LOVE for my situation to be “AMPLIFIED”, because now I want heads on platters. Playing by the rules did not work.
cdclled
We hear how Drs. actually hate patients, how some of them are thrilled to give someone a deadly diagnosis.
I read this blog frequently and I have never heard this sentiment in any part of this site. I have also never heard of any doctor in any hospital where I have worked express such an emotion. Please provide some proof if you don’t mind.
How they abuse the health system and ins companies, by ordering all these unnecessary tests and procedures.
You are confused. Doctors may order tests that are, in their opinion, medically unnecessary; however, they are in most cases legally necessary. Health care in the US must meet both medical AND legal guidelines. If you think these two are the same then you are kidding yourself. Legal precedent has set forth standards of care that in some cases might call for more tests than necessary, but it is not doctors who made this decision. This was decided by the juries who told doctors they were at fault for not doing enough tests.
Anonymous
cdclled…I can promise you the posts are here where DOCTOR’s have said exactly what I just told you they said..
I will find some for you tomorrow and post them when Im not half asleep. Although anyone who has read here for any time at all has also heard these remarks. For someone to claim they haven’t is almost laughable. You have never heard of the Doc that is referred to as “Crazy Doc” on this blog? You must be new! He once stated right here on this blog that he is happy when he can tell a patient they are dying of leukemia! He also calls patients all sorts of names..
As for your other comments, what I said still stands..lol..All you did was just verify it! You just admitted you order unnecessary tests and procedures not for your patients own good, but for your own good.
When I go to a Doctor, I am not there for legal care. I am there to receive medical care based on his 12 years of education and additional years of experience.
If you have not learned to be confident enough in yourself, and have trust in your education then why would I come to you for medical advise? Maybe we should just all call the Lawyers now and give them our symptoms and they can order all our testings?
You seem to be allowing the legal profession to dictate to you how to run your medical office. They must be thrilled that instead of fighting back, you all buckle to them and allow them to run over you.
If medical advise can be found in a law book then what in the world do we need with doctors?
Ordering unnecessary tests and procedure is harmful to your patients and is breaking the health care system.
Samson Isberg
“You seem to be allowing the legal profession to dictate to you how to run your medical office. They must be thrilled that instead of fighting back, you all buckle to them and allow them to run over you.”
Allowing? And how can we fight back, pray tell? I guess you’re not advocating the Shakespearean solution, are you?
Anonymous
“I read this blog frequently and I have never heard this sentiment in any part of this site.”
Nor have I read anything quite as extreme as that. However, it is not uncommon for someone to describe a situation or encounter on this site and hear in response nothing more intelligent than, “You’re lying.” Also, there is at least one person who frequently refers to patients as “sodomites”. This individual indicates that he/she is a physician, and certainly supports the essence of the claims made by the poster you are answering.
“it is not doctors who made this decision. This was decided by the juries who told doctors they were at fault for not doing enough tests.”
I disagree. The policies and practices of hospitals and clinics are being directed by their insurers and risk management JDs, and the administrations who’ve made themselves puppets of their legal counselors — whose careers depend on keeping physicians in a constant state of exaggerated malpractice fear.
And, since it is the doctors who employ them, the doctors are responsible for the actions that follow.
Anonymous
anon what part of the phrase “crazy doc” do you not understand? Maybe we call him crazy doc because we think he is nuts. So you paint us all by his rants? With respect to your uninformed rants about “not being confident in ourselves”….I make life and death decisions daily. I don’t make these decisions lightly. I also have sat in court room with a clueless lawyer second guessing every decison I have made in crtical situations. So yes, I cover all my bases…even the zebra’s. I am not going to have my career ruined by some asshole JD out to make a buck.
PS: To the trolling lawyers on this site save your “medical negligence” comments to yourselves. Most of you wouldn’t know REAL medical malpractice (which does occur) if it bit you in your clueless asses.
cdclled
First, I am not a doctor, however, I do know as well as anybody that the torts system has a similar effect on ALL businesses, not just health care. The ridiculous warning labels you see warning you against absurd uses of certain products are the result of fear of litigation. Just a couple weeks ago the makers of Magic Eraser were sued because they failed to include a warning label to inform users that they shouldn’t apply the product directly to their forehead. Businesses have been sued when burglars fall through the roof of the building and injure themselves. All businesses that deal with the public must take extra precautions that may seem unnecessary; however, if they don’t they WILL be held responsible in court. You say physicians should be “fighting back” What do you propose they do? Get sued to the point where they can no longer keep the doors open on their practice? That’ll show em’!
cdclled
On the topic of CrazyDoc… yes if he is an actual doctor and thinks those things that is detestable, but should you use him as an example of an average doctor? No. Have you entertained the possibility that he may not be who he says he is? If I told you in an online chat room that I were a cop and I go around shooting innocent pedestrians would you believe me? If you have read many online blogs you know that trolling is a common thing. A troll is defined by Wikipedia as
“In Internet terminology, a troll is a person who enters an established community such as an online discussion forum and intentionally tries to cause disruption, most often in the form of posting inflammatory, off-topic, insulting, or otherwise inappropriate messages.”
Even if he is a doctor, he might just be trying to get a response from you.
Michael Rack, MD
“I can promise you the posts are here where DOCTOR’s have said exactly what I just told you they said..”
Please don’t take seriously what a bunch of cowards who post anonymously and may or may not be doctors write.
ismd
“If you have not learned to be confident enough in yourself, and have trust in your education then why would I come to you for medical advise? Maybe we should just all call the Lawyers now and give them our symptoms and they can order all our testings?”
I AM confident in what I do. It’s the patients that I, unfortunately, may not be able to trust, despite the fact that we may have what appears to be a good relationship. Maybe you wouldn’t sue, but how do I know my great patient may not turn around and do so because I may have missed a one in a million diagnosis? If I could practice medicine rationally and as you’d like me to, without fear of legal ramifications for a missed diagnosis of a rare disease, I would do so in a heartbeat, and save us all alot of money, time and hassles. But I can’t because I could be the next victim of the local sodomites. So while I trust my knowledge and experience, I can’t trust the trial lawyers, and, to some extent, the patient.

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