A few days before preparing this post, I greeted a patient who was about to undergo her 5th colonoscopy. I was the pilot for the 4 prior excursions. “You should’ve signed up for the rewards program,” I quipped. “This one would’ve been free!” Our patients, with rare exceptions, enjoy our light atmosphere seasoned with some humor. This does not detract from our seriousness of purpose and commitment to their welfare, and they know it. Our endoscopy team is comprised of outstanding medical professionals.
I care for many patients for whom I have performed all of their
colonoscopies, which may exceed 10 procedures.
I recently performed an examination on one of my colitis patients who
has unique findings which have remained stable for years. I know his colon as well as I know his
face! Indeed, if I were shown a photo of
his colon, I would immediately be able to name the individual. So, when we gastroenterologists claim that we
know our patients inside and out, we mean it.
I am honored that so many of my patients want me to continue
to serve as their proceduralist. For
rationale reasons, they have been asking me if my retirement is imminent as
they are hoping to time their final colonoscopy prior to that departure
date. While I have no plans to hang up the
scope, many of my patients will, of course, be transitioning to another
gastroenterologist at some point. I’ve certainly
inherited many patients from colleagues who have retired.
Am I simply the best colonoscopist around? Is my technique peerless? Is my diagnostic accuracy a role model in the
field? None of the above.
Over time, patients get comfortable with their
physicians. I think that when a
procedure is involved, particularly one that will be repeated, that a special
bond of trust is formed.
Think of it this way.
In the back of your garage is that soft and worn baseball mitt. While there may be better baseball gloves out
there, this one is yours. And when you
pull it onto your fingers, it fits perfectly just as it always has. And if there comes a time that it needs to be
replaced, there will be a period of discomfort and adjustment that makes this
transition challenging. And so it is
with your doctor.
That is so great that your patients feel comfortable with you. Now, do they feel comfortable with the reimbursement that the doctor is getting for the procedure?
ReplyDeleteYes, not nearly enough reimbursement!
DeleteGreat story. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately many forces seem to conspire to make our care just a commodity - interchangable and all the same. As a physician hitting my 60s, I can see that stories like yours will continue to be less and less common.
ReplyDeleteComments appreciated. While there is great frustration on the reimbursement and billing aspects of medicine, I do not think that patients hold their physicians responsible for this. As to anonymous commenter #2, I agree. In large physician employed models, for example, I don't think patients even expect to have met physicians who will be assigned to perform procedures or to undergo treatments. I have seen that they have come to expect this reality. I can't say that is worse for patients, but it is a different experience.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of patients not directly holding their physicians responsible, there is rarely loyalty that wins when their employer changes their healthcare plan to a "less expensive plan" (for the employer) which considers their dearest, most esteemed physicians "out-of-network." I have deep relationships with many of my families, but as soon as this happens, they simply don't have the financial luxury of choosing to remain in my practice.
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