Fat Doctor: “Today, three patients covered the mouthpieces on their landline or mobile phones and asked me to come back in 10 or 20 minutes. They know me. They know I am their treating physician. Presumedly, they are all sick enough to be in the hospital.”
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Note on the chart that the patient refused an exam since he valued phone chats to proper care. Review the case with the nurses.
What are we, freeking housekeepers at the motel?
“and asked me”
Simple enough — the answer is “no”!
Well, crank up your best smilin’ Jack Nicholson and say: “Dear, I’m sure there are places that you’d rather be and other people you’d rather be with than here with me–I know I feel that way–but let’s do the best we can right here and right now. And please hang up that phone ,I hate rudeness from people I’m going out of the way to help.”
Or just say ; :” I will wait for you extra 20 min and I will bill you, not the insurance, for extended services”.
As an ER doc, I don’t have time to interrupt their conversation or have time for stares or snarky comments. I just exit the room put the chart in the back of the rack and go on to the next patient. Maybe they will be off the phone when the chart finally gets to the front of the line a couple hours later.
I’d still like an answer to the question I asked over there, which is apparently too buried to get a response. I’m currently an extended bedrest maternity patient (4 weeks down, 5.5 to go). When my doctor came in on rounds (ignoring a do-not-disturb on my door) and I covered the mouthpiece and said, “I’m on a scheduled call with my psychotherapist – could we do this later?” did I commit the same unbearable rudeness? I really didn’t intend to be rude, but I don’t particularly want to be rude to the MD on the phone who scheduled the time with me, either.
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