Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Are patients really the problem?

Suzanne Fiscella, PA-C
Patient
July 20, 2017
169 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

“Doctors are not the problem. Patients are.”

Anyone who has ever thought the above statement is true has not tapped into the vast well of knowledge and intellect found in their own patients. Training patients to be better patients brings the joy of medicine back into your practice.

All of us, at one time or another, sat in a classroom. The teacher spent the first day going over the rules of the classroom, the insights into getting an A and the consequences of an F. These rules gave structure, hope and guidance to us, matching teacher expectations proportionally with student performance. The student knew that these were the teacher’s rules and expectations and, if followed, better outcomes would occur.

Who of us has driven a car without any driver training? Jumping behind the wheel without mastering the basic rules of the road can be fatal. Maneuvering around bad drivers takes practice and skill. Are cellphones so easy to use that a customer can pick it up and immediately start using all the features offered? Not so. Even Millennials have to learn new features so they can figure out how to get that new contraption to work the way they want. Upload, download — it takes time and knowledge.

Yet, the practice of medicine has woefully ignored patient training. Medicine should use the slogan, “No patient without medical-method training.” Why do medical professionals think patients are ready to run out the door competent in their new diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes or low back pain without being taught how to understand our methods first? And though training can focus on disease education, we also need to focus on the rules of the medical “classroom.”

The medical profession has ignored its patient’s ability to learn how to master the health care system. By not demanding better preparation, better skill, knowledge and holding the participant responsible, American medicine has lagged far behind other medical systems in the world. Are patients ready to master the complex issues surrounding their health, insurance, hospital, doctor and medical prescription coverage? Of course they are — with the proper training.

As medical professionals, we were taught the format of medical charting — the SOAP note. When this is taught to patients, they become engaged. When I explain to my patients that they need to tell me their OLD CARTS, (remember this mnemonic?), patients get excited about what this means for them.

I train patients to understand the pressures, legal issues and time crunches providers are under. They appreciate the time anyone can spend with them. They ask more thoughtful questions and express less emotionally stressed thoughts. I even had a patient once tell me to “Hurry up, you only have 10 minutes with me, and you’re going to make the next patient late.” When trained, patients bring their own set of accurate medical records with them. Patients discuss their care, what’s best for them, what works for them. Family members become more engaged. Specialists know why I am sending patients to them because the patient has been trained to ask me why first. Patients have their answers ready when questions are asked. They even know which specialists they want to return to if needed.

Direct primary care and concierge medicine practices are on the rise. Why? Because these practitioners are spending more time with their patients. By getting to know the wants and needs of every patient, partnerships and friendships are made. Honest communication becomes the norm. The “rules of the practice” are explained as soon as the patient queries about these growing forms of medical practice and their patient training begins.

Patient advocates are on the rise as well. For families who cannot keep up with unresolved medical issues, patient advocates are trained in the art of medical methods and know how to slide through the medical system, finding hope, answers and peace-of-mind for their clients.

Doctor and patient, teacher and student, parent and child, employer and employee; these trainings go hand in hand. No health care system can fix itself when it doesn’t start with training. Patients deserve explanation, communication, understanding and trust. From this, comes better choices, outcomes, and ultimately, healing. Give them the hope they deserve. Let the training begin.

Suzanne Fiscella is a patient advocate and founder, Patient Best.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com 

Prev

Senator McCain has brain cancer. Here's what that means.

July 20, 2017 Kevin 5
…
Next

Having a baby in a hospital? Here are 10 things you must know.

July 20, 2017 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Patients, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Senator McCain has brain cancer. Here's what that means.
Next Post >
Having a baby in a hospital? Here are 10 things you must know.

More by Suzanne Fiscella, PA-C

  • “I’ll put my cell phone away when you put your computer away.”

    Suzanne Fiscella, PA-C
  • The Good Doctor shows us the value of time

    Suzanne Fiscella, PA-C

Related Posts

  • Are patients using social media to attack physicians?

    David R. Stukus, MD
  • You are abandoning your patients if you are not active on social media

    Pat Rich
  • Here are some things that patients wish doctors knew

    R. Lynn Barnett
  • Patients are not passengers

    Christopher Noll, RN, MSN
  • How urologists can be more sensitive to male patients

    Misty Roberts
  • Here’s how your attitude affects patients

    Lauren Feltz, MHSc

More in Patient

  • There’s no one to drive your patient home

    Denise Reich
  • Dying is a selfish business

    Nancie Wiseman Attwater
  • A story of a good death

    Carol Ewig
  • We are warriors: doctors and patients

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Patient care is not a spectator sport

    Jim Sholler
  • Me is who I am

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

      James Young, MD | Physician
    • Physicians are a finite resource we need to protect

      Jack Resneck, Jr., MD | Physician
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • How understanding cultural backgrounds can lead to better patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • The Titanic sinking: a metaphor for the impending collapse of medicine

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD & Shreekant Vasudhev, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • How understanding cultural backgrounds can lead to better patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From license to loneliness: the dilemma of retired physicians

      Richard Plotzker, MD | Physician
    • Tackling the health care crisis with artificial intelligence: Combating physician and nursing shortages in the United States

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Tech
    • From hope to heartbreak: a story of loss in the ICU

      Ton La, Jr., MD, JD | Conditions
    • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

      Brian Sayers, MD | Physician
    • Lessons from an orthopedic surgery journey [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Experts Call for PBM Transparency During Senate Hearing
  • Want to Fix Medicare Pay for Primary Care Docs? How About Two Fee Schedules?
  • OTC Narcan Approval Opens New Doors in Fight Against Opioid Crisis
  • U.S. 'Flying Blind' When It Comes to Data on Substance Use in Pregnancy
  • Fear of Family Separation a Barrier to Addiction Care During Pregnancy

Meeting Coverage

  • VTE Risk in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Increases With More Lines of Chemotherapy
  • Obesity's Impact on Uterine Cancer Risk Greater in Younger Age Groups
  • Oral Roflumilast Effective in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis
  • Phase III Trials 'Hit a Home Run' in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Cannabis Use Common in Post-Surgery Patients on Opioid Tapering
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

      James Young, MD | Physician
    • Physicians are a finite resource we need to protect

      Jack Resneck, Jr., MD | Physician
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • How understanding cultural backgrounds can lead to better patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • The Titanic sinking: a metaphor for the impending collapse of medicine

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD & Shreekant Vasudhev, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • How understanding cultural backgrounds can lead to better patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From license to loneliness: the dilemma of retired physicians

      Richard Plotzker, MD | Physician
    • Tackling the health care crisis with artificial intelligence: Combating physician and nursing shortages in the United States

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Tech
    • From hope to heartbreak: a story of loss in the ICU

      Ton La, Jr., MD, JD | Conditions
    • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

      Brian Sayers, MD | Physician
    • Lessons from an orthopedic surgery journey [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Are patients really the problem?
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...