How you do it matters:
Almost all patients want to be greeted by name when seeing a doctor for the first time and want to shake hands, a survey of patients found. But while handshakes are common, doctors often never utter the patient’s name, the researchers said.
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How you do it is important too.
Wrong:
“Hello Alison, I’m Dr. Pho. What brings you here today?”
Right (either version):
“Hello Ms. Cummins, I’m Dr. Pho. What brings you here today?”
“Hello Alison, I’m Kevin. What brings you here today?”
I have no objection to doctors emphasising their professional status. But then the point is, this is a professional relationship, doctor-patient. So address me in a professional manner, not by my first name.
I have no objection to doctors dispensing with the honorific either, for instance in a situation where they need to reduce distance from a marginalised population - street kids, or whatever. In these situations, you dispense with everyone’s honorific.
“So address me in a professional manner, not by my first name.”
The latest trend in some Harvard-affliated hospitals and clinics is to call the patient by a number, not by a name.
After the “Number” is called, the “Number” is asked for a birthdate.
Nothing like a dose of dehumainzing treatment when all one wants is professional medical care.
“Nothing like a dose of dehumainzing treatment when all one wants is professional medical care.”
You can thank HIPPA for that.
“The latest trend in some Harvard-affiliated hospitals and clinics is to call the patient by a number, not by a name.”
Kevin, this should be a thread of its own.
I remember rotating at one of the most elite Ivory Tower medical institutions where one attending referred to his female patients as “Honey”. Other attendings were as coldly clinical as surgical steel. It is amazing how many bigwigs lack basic interpersonal skills. Then again, such skills are largely innate rather than book-learned.