The Colon Club

How often has this come up?!? What a great idea!
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1-medical-actors-20140224-dto-htmlstory.html

Interesting article. I have come across a wide variety of abilities to communicate and levels of empathy from the medical professionals I have been involved with. Not sure how much help these classes would give to those that have a more naturally abrasive personality. But I would enjoy putting some on a list for them.

I think the idea is to expose them to potential situations prior to actually being in front of a patient and having to deliver bad news. Guidance is given on what's appropriate and what isn't with hopes that they will learn and improve their bedside manner. Can you imagine if they asked us patients?

Phuong wrote:Can you imagine if they asked us patients?

"You're FIRED !!! " ????

Think they'd want ME as a test patient actor ...... Hmmmmmm do ya' ?


actually I think a good idea for training purposes ... BUTT
I still want the best surgeon doing my surgery, even if he/she is a jerk !!!

JMO

Cheers
CR

DH's oncologist is awful! Only reason we stay is because it's MSK. She will literally just get up and leave the room abruptly and we sit there waiting to see if she is coming back. After about 8 minutes we figure she isn't coming back. Definitely gives us a good laugh uring stressful meetings with her though - HA!

Dear Crazylife,

I think I know who your doctor is. I am 8 1/2 years NED thanks to the surgeon and the oncologist's knowledge. I was told she did not have a good bedside manner, but I would rather have her, than one with a terrific bedside manner and bad results. My goal, from day 1, was to try to make her human. It was like a game. It takes a while to understand her but if you want someone to fight for you, she is it. My husband finally realized, a one minute visit is a good visit. Things are going according to plan. Her staff is a well oiled machine. If you need to talk, Trish is the one. The doctor goes over every scan and bloodwork herself and she has amended several CT scans because the radiologist missed something..

My husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last November and I called her to see which doctor she recommended. She called me back herself within 5 minutes and told me who to go to. and she told me if I couldn't get in his next available day, she would get us in. The Pancreatic oncologist has a wonderful bedside manner and is excellent but we have to double check everything that is left to her staff. Many things fall through the cracks.

While my husband was in the local hospital with an infection, I suffered a heart attack.

I do cancer patient support and one of my patients called me while I was in the hospital. She was nervous about her CT scan. She told the doctor the next day when she went for treatment and the doctor CALLED me immediately. She really does care.

PM me if you would like to vent. I understand your frustration, but you are in the best hands.

Kathy

I would be happy to give some tips to the actors who portray the patients!

crazylife wrote:DH's oncologist is awful! Only reason we stay is because it's MSK. She will literally just get up and leave the room abruptly and we sit there waiting to see if she is coming back. After about 8 minutes we figure she isn't coming back. Definitely gives us a good laugh uring stressful meetings with her though - HA!

Crazylife, I've been going to the same oncologist at MSK for over 5 years now. In many ways she is a researcher first and a doctor second. That means she leaves no stone unturned when dealing with your unique case and you get the very best of care - technically speaking - that you possibly can. But she doesn't have a warm-and-fuzzy personality, although she cares deeply about all of her patients.

She has warmed up over the time I've known her and I often make her smile now. Like Kathy, I would rather have her brilliant mind on my case than someone with a good bedside manner. In every crisis I had during my treatment and surgeries, she was there for me in the way I needed the most, getting me emergency appointments with specialists the same day I saw her, bumping me up to the head of the line for a CT scan, calling me at home personally to discuss an issue, whatever it took. She is highly respected at MSK which is why she can pull so many strings when she wants something done. I literally owe my life to her.

You're not the first patient who's waited in the exam room not knowing whether she was done with them or not though!

Hi all,

It's not Dr. K! It's Dr. Won who was assigned to us by Dr. DeMatteo after surgery. He felt like with one respectable liver met we probably didn't need Kemeny. He's been right since it's now showing in his lungs.

Maybe Dr. K trained Dr. Won on bedside manner - ha ha!!

crazylife wrote:Hi all,

It's not Dr. K! It's Dr. Won who was assigned to us by Dr. DeMatteo after surgery. He felt like with one respectable liver met we probably didn't need Kemeny. He's been right since it's now showing in his lungs.

Maybe Dr. K trained Dr. Won on bedside manner - ha ha!!

Ha! A case of "profiling" if ever there was one!

I saw Dr. K with both liver mets and lung mets. She had a handful dealing with me! But I am NED now so keep the faith. Dr. Huang at MSK was my thoracic surgeon. I highly recommend him.

My mum's current oncologist has it all going on , compassion with good decisions. With her last lung met I mentioned I was disappointed as she nearly got out the door. She pulled a wee face. I said but to you it's still a success. She said " yes" . Then I sat and thought about all she must see yet she has the human touch .
One or two others have made me sincerely wonder if they had a spectrum disorder and communication was genuinely difficult for them . I decided this was a good thing in that there was precise decisions going on but kind of needed to work in tandem with another member of staff to smooth over the rough edges.
But they might just have had a bad attitude and the science angle is more their thing. L x