Medscape op-ed on how to help today’s tense, frustrated doctors

October 28, 2009

My latest opinion piece, co-written with Placebo Journal’s Doug Farrago, was published in Medscape today.

medscape logo Entitled, Help for Today’s Tense, Frustrated Doctors (registration required), we discuss how doctors benefit from finding a ray of humor, despite the glum practice environment many physicians find themselves in:

Patients also can benefit from some levity during their doctor’s visit. We’ve heard from many patients who are growing increasingly dissatisfied after receiving medical care. They report little eye contact, decreased face-to-face time, and feeling depersonalized. These are all consequences of a medical system that promotes rushed physician encounters.

As the doctor-patient relationship deteriorates, can a well-placed, appropriate joke help?

Yes. Sharing lighter moments can make appointments feel less hurried and have patients thinking, “Hey, this doctor spent a few minutes to tell a joke, rather than rushing straight to the lab results or x-ray report.” Sensitive topics can be broached more easily once a shared laugh breaks the proverbial ice.

Enjoy the piece.



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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Helen October 28, 2009 at 2:36 pm

I had one of my most successful and pleasant doctor’s appointments back in September with an orthopedic surgeon who chatted and joked through the entire exam. When I had surgery last year, I remember my surgeon making me laugh from the time he came to wheel me into the OR until the time I fell asleep.

A sense of humour makes a big difference for doctors and patients alike.

2 Michael Rack, MD October 29, 2009 at 10:31 am

some patients don’t like jokes- they feel that they shouldn’t be paying the doctor to joke around.

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