The Delayed Operation Appointment

Please Note: This article is intended only for Doctors and medical undergraduate and post-graduate students. Non-Medicos please do not read this article.

In this day of specialization, there is a loss of family doctor and its firm rapport with the patient. In a patient coming on the first visit, with a complex problem, for which any decision making needs the trust and understanding on the part of the patient, one of my colleagues defers the major bulk of discussion to later visits.

He has found that many patients coming for the first time are just 'window shopping' with minimal interest in following the doctor's advice. There is no point in going into detail with such patients on the first visit, wasting theirs and his valuable time. Starting a complicated or difficult treatment plan without proper trust on part of patient frequently leads to a problem if any complication occurs or if another doctor suggests a different management plan.

At the first visit, he does just the routine work-up, symptomatic treatment, and orders relevant investigations. If the patient comes for next visit, it is a sign that some amount of trust has been established between the doctor and the patient. Then he starts discussing the problem and its solution with the patient, in increasing complexity, with the increase in the contact between him and the patient. Unless it is an emergency he only operates on a patient after a rapport and trust have been developed between him and the patient by the 3^rd consultation visit. So, according to him:

Tip: In new patient first visit only basics.

Tip: Second visit more complex discussion.

Tip: Operation / Intervention only by the third visit.

(Based on true incident)

— ND
© Author. All rights reserved. 

If viewing from Mobile, switch to Webpage view to see a list of popular posts and index of topics of previous posts.

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purpose. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use of the information herein is at you one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norm. 

You can share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, etc, using the Buttons above 'Labels' and below 'Posted by:'.
Please give your valuable feedback via comments below. Please note that comments will appear after moderation.

You can receive notification on latest post by subscribing via clicking on the bottom of the page on the Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)