I have learned over the years that if I start an interaction with a patient by imagining I am on their side of the conversation, I immediately slow down and become a better dcotor. But it takes daily concentrated effort, each time I pick up the phone or grab a chart -to stop for just a split second, put myself in the patient’ shoes, and then start. I’m not always so good at it, and I often forget. Thanks for reminding me today.

All my regular doctors are warm, compassionate people but when I was hospitalized in December with pneumonia the pulmonary doc was a jerk. He came in to my room on day two, when we didn’t know that the pneumonia in one lung had spread to the other and I had an as-yet undiagnosed electrolyte imbalance. He looked at me and said “if you don’t get out of that bed you’re not going to get better.” I was too sick to be angry, but 8 days later when I was discharged the memory of it made me irate.

Can’t say I’ve encountered any doctors who weren’t at least civil — most have been very nice.

Now, if you can teach humanity to health care administrators and risk management lawyers…then we’d have something to talk about!