Comments on: How House, M.D. is affecting patients’ expectations of medical care http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Wendy S. Harpham, MDhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113781 Wendy S. Harpham, MD Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:20:07 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113781 As a physician-survivor, I've experienced from both sides of the stethoscope the difficulty of living with a difficult-to-diagnose condition: http://tinyurl.com/OT-puzzlingWith hope, Wendy As a physician-survivor, I’ve experienced from both sides of the stethoscope the difficulty of living with a difficult-to-diagnose condition: http://tinyurl.com/OT-puzzling

With hope, Wendy

]]> By: taikihttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113759 taiki Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:05:31 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113759 House should be also working the other way. I know that it's probably a *bad* idea to call patients idiot to their face, but if they get their medical tips from House, maybe they'll also not complain when you treat them like crap. House should be also working the other way. I know that it’s probably a *bad* idea to call patients idiot to their face, but if they get their medical tips from House, maybe they’ll also not complain when you treat them like crap.

]]> By: Diane J Standifordhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113483 Diane J Standiford Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:19:57 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113483 Febrifuge, You have the right idea. Taking new patients? I like smart doctors. You will not only be successful, but you will sleep soundly. I wish there were more of your kind. Febrifuge, You have the right idea. Taking new patients? I like smart doctors. You will not only be successful, but you will sleep soundly. I wish there were more of your kind.

]]> By: Danimalhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113461 Danimal Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:20:13 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113461 I'm quite disappointed with my doc. Not only does he not abuse and humiliate his subordinates, but he doesn't even have an Olivia Wilde look-alike wandering around. I’m quite disappointed with my doc. Not only does he not abuse and humiliate his subordinates, but he doesn’t even have an Olivia Wilde look-alike wandering around.

]]> By: JenJenhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113458 JenJen Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:35:46 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113458 Hey maybe House will also teach patients not to expect too much of that warm fuzzy "compassion" stuff. Hey maybe House will also teach patients not to expect too much of that warm fuzzy “compassion” stuff.

]]> By: Evinxhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113456 Evinx Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:15:52 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113456 Oh sure, whenever I have some ailment, I always seek out a pill addicted doctor who has spent time in a mental institution. Everyone knows they are the best diagnosticians. What about entertainment don't your patients understand? Oh sure, whenever I have some ailment, I always seek out a pill addicted doctor who has spent time in a mental institution. Everyone knows they are the best diagnosticians. What about entertainment don’t your patients understand?

]]> By: Febrifuge, PA-Chttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113453 Febrifuge, PA-C Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:27:31 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113453 As providers, we have to get comfortable with the idea that our patients participate in the popular culture, and that culture reflects and comments on what we do. Previous generations benefitted from the sense of mystery and esteem engendered by medical dramas that put doctors on a pedestal. Patients believed in Dr. Kildare and his unwavering dedication, even when many providers were less noble. It’s disingenuous to complain that patients expect too much of us, when nobody was objecting in the days when patients happily accepted “doctor’s orders” without question or complaint.And is it really that hard to talk to patients, and explain that TV isn’t real life? I’ve had good results just by acknowledging people’s feelings, showing that I know what they’re talking about, and even saying “I wish it was like that, but it’s not.” And House has been a feature of a couple of really good patient discussions. I’ve found people are generally accepting of the idea that we have to get Test A before we know whether it’s worthwhile to get Test B, if I use the show as an example.House teaches some horrible lessons about medicine, but unlike any other show, it demonstrates that it is a process, sometimes one involving trial-and-error. It also shows that not everyone who works to make people better is necessarily a saint, or even someone you’d want to have a beer with. We have an opportunity to benefit from those aspects, and it’s a shame not to. As providers, we have to get comfortable with the idea that our patients participate in the popular culture, and that culture reflects and comments on what we do. Previous generations benefitted from the sense of mystery and esteem engendered by medical dramas that put doctors on a pedestal. Patients believed in Dr. Kildare and his unwavering dedication, even when many providers were less noble. It’s disingenuous to complain that patients expect too much of us, when nobody was objecting in the days when patients happily accepted “doctor’s orders” without question or complaint.

And is it really that hard to talk to patients, and explain that TV isn’t real life? I’ve had good results just by acknowledging people’s feelings, showing that I know what they’re talking about, and even saying “I wish it was like that, but it’s not.” And House has been a feature of a couple of really good patient discussions. I’ve found people are generally accepting of the idea that we have to get Test A before we know whether it’s worthwhile to get Test B, if I use the show as an example.

House teaches some horrible lessons about medicine, but unlike any other show, it demonstrates that it is a process, sometimes one involving trial-and-error. It also shows that not everyone who works to make people better is necessarily a saint, or even someone you’d want to have a beer with. We have an opportunity to benefit from those aspects, and it’s a shame not to.

]]> By: Nuclear Firehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113451 Nuclear Fire Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:11:11 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113451 I guess I need to go buy a bunch of cool t-shirts and vintage sports coats to wear with my distressed jeans. I guess I need to go buy a bunch of cool t-shirts and vintage sports coats to wear with my distressed jeans.

]]> By: Diane J Standifordhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113449 Diane J Standiford Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:43:10 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113449 If my doctors would stop answering my questions with blank stares or turning around and typing my question into Google (YES! My neurologist did that) then I would have more confidence in them. They use the Internet for answers and so must we patients. My older Drs. are wiser and more experienced. On HOUSE, he has 4 other helpers to diagnose problems. I can't afford that level of care. But, I do mention House, just to razz my primary doc. LOL If my doctors would stop answering my questions with blank stares or turning around and typing my question into Google (YES! My neurologist did that) then I would have more confidence in them. They use the Internet for answers and so must we patients. My older Drs. are wiser and more experienced. On HOUSE, he has 4 other helpers to diagnose problems. I can’t afford that level of care. But, I do mention House, just to razz my primary doc. LOL

]]> By: Undiagnosedhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/house-md-affecting-patients-expectations-medical-care.html#comment-113448 Undiagnosed Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:33:43 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40319#comment-113448 It's been 9 years since the symptoms first appeared and I still don't have a diagnosis. Most of the doctors I have seen, when faced with spending the extraordinary amount of time needed to care for me, abandoned me. Five minute appointments, urgent care were detrimental to diagnosis and treamtent. Unfortunately, when I am asked how I am doing, I tell the doctor only enough to get the medication that makes me feel better. The doctor is not really interested in my quality of life...to open that door means the next patient would have to wait. It’s been 9 years since the symptoms first appeared and I still don’t have a diagnosis. Most of the doctors I have seen, when faced with spending the extraordinary amount of time needed to care for me, abandoned me. Five minute appointments, urgent care were detrimental to diagnosis and treamtent. Unfortunately, when I am asked how I am doing, I tell the doctor only enough to get the medication that makes me feel better. The doctor is not really interested in my quality of life…to open that door means the next patient would have to wait.

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