So today I had the great opportunity to sit in a required 8-5 meeting of the Arizona board of osteopathic examiners. All I have to say is...wow. The board basically reviews case complaints against physicians by either patients, other physicians, or anybody else for that matter and determines if action should be taken against the physician, i.e put on probation, suspension, writing letter of concern, etc. It's different than appearing for a malpractice case, this is of no monetary gain/loss to anyone, it's just a BAD thing for a doctor to go through. We saw cases ranging from physicians over prescribing opiates (maintaining people's addictions), writing narcotics for themselves, poor charting, and my personal favorite, telling patient her shot is not a steroid, but rather it's actually MAGIC. (I just want to mention that this doctor also wears his best jack sparrow costume in to work, lies on the floor on his belly to read patients charts, and wore a suit with sandals and red socks to his meeting before the board today!) So, although some claims were funny, some were unfounded, most of them were scary...really scary. We're always taught the importance of charting correctly and documenting EVERYTHING but after today...I'm seriously thinking about writing down my patients' outfits at the time of their visit, not really, but almost. It really put in perspective how important being thorough really is. I mean, of course we shouldn't half ass anything when it comes to patients...but it's incredible how much you have to think about as not to miss anything. They always say if you really are attentive and really focusing on the entire patient and the patient's best interest, rather than just thinking about covering yourself...you won't miss anything. But it's almost like you need to find a balance between the two things. But then again, doctors are human, they make mistakes, and unfortunately unhappy patients these days like to find the smallest thing to file a law suit. So it's kind of daunting right now trying to just learn how to think like a doctor and having to keep the thought in the back of your mind that on any given day, with any given patient, if you forget one thing, if you don't write it down, or even fail to mention it...you can be in trouble. And knowing all of that....there are hundreds of doctors out there just doing a crappy job at caring for people, failing to do even the basics, and just plain being jerks to their patients. It made me really think/worry about all these doctors my family and friends go to. How do more people not die?!?! I'm afraid of killing a patient just about on a weekly basis, it's crazy the pressure. But i suppose it comes with the territory. Somebody once told me that if you picture every patient to be your mom, dad, sister, brother, grandmother, etc...and you treat them the way you'd want your family to be treated, you'll be great. I hope so :-)
And just a tip to my family/friends in the non-medical field: write down EVERYTHING that relates to your healthcare, hold your doctor accountable for giving you the BEST care you can find, ask questions...and don't stop until they are answered. Be that annoying patient who asks too many questions, it's a good thing! Doctors aren't immune to mistakes and after all, it's YOUR life, who better than to know everything about it than you! (ok i'm done preaching now)
K i'm off to enjoy my free sat night on the town in scottsdale!
p.s. if your doc ever tells u a drug works by magic...RUN!
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