Comments on: Greeting new patients

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:56:00 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:44:00 +0000

“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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:09:00 +0000

“Nothing like a dose of dehumainzing treatment when all one wants is professional medical care.”

You can thank HIPPA for that.

By: KoKo

KoKo — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:02:00 +0000

"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.

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:13:00 +0000

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.