Comments on: Greeting new patients http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76113 Anonymous Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:56:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76113 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. 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: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76112 Anonymous Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:44:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76112 "The latest trend in some Harvard-affiliated hospitals and clinics is to call the patient by a number, not by a name."<br/><br/>Kevin, this should be a thread of its own. “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: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76084 Anonymous Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76084 "Nothing like a dose of dehumainzing treatment when all one wants is professional medical care."<br/><br/>You can thank HIPPA for that. “Nothing like a dose of dehumainzing treatment when all one wants is professional medical care.”

You can thank HIPPA for that.

]]> By: KoKohttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76076 KoKo Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:02:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76076 "So address me in a professional manner, not by my first name."<br/><br/>The latest trend in some Harvard-affliated hospitals and clinics is to call the patient by a number, not by a name.<br/><br/>After the "Number" is called, the "Number" is asked for a birthdate.<br/><br/>Nothing like a dose of dehumainzing treatment when all one wants is professional medical care. “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: Alisonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76075 Alison Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:13:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/06/greeting-new-patients.html#comment-76075 How you do it is important too. <br/><br/>Wrong:<br/>"Hello Alison, I'm Dr. Pho. What brings you here today?" <br/><br/>Right (either version):<br/>"Hello Ms. Cummins, I'm Dr. Pho. What brings you here today?" <br/><br/>"Hello Alison, I'm Kevin. What brings you here today?" <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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. 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.

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