What is a hospitalist? It's getting better, but anytime I walk into a room and introduce myself, I have stopped telling patients and families I am hospitalist. It's too complicated for many of them. Instead I just say simply:
Hi Mrs Smith. I'm Dr Happy. I'm a specialist in hospital medicine.
And move on from there. I know I'm a primary care trained internist (which is sometimes no better because patients ask What is an internist?) But this way the patient doesn't think I don't do anything but consult (CPT 99253, 99254, 99255) other doctors (which many patients believe is my role) and using the word "specialist" gives me credibility in an America where everyone expects some sort of magical specialist with genie powers to march in at my calling to make them better.
I have stopped telling patients that I do what their primary care doctor does, only I do it in the hospital. Most patients have a belief that their primary care doctor doesn't do anything but screen, prevent and refer actual medical care to other doctors. For many patients this is their reality because many primary care doctors do send everything to specialists, sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes out of laziness, sometimes out of economic necessity and sometimes out of legal necessity. And patients suffer.
I figure, if the patient considers me a specialist from day one, it makes my ability to do my job so much easier. And they aren't asking me every day when the specialist is going to come. And if they do, I tell them that's me.
Never understood people ashamed of their specialty...
ReplyDeleteUm, well I do, but why'd you go into it if you're ashamed of it??...
Come out of that Closet, Happy,
Embrace the Flea, Smell that Coffee in the OR lounge you sneak into like "Rudy" did in "Rudy"
Go to Med Schools around the Country, and tell them...
"I'm Happy and I'm here to Recruit You!!!!"
Sorry, had to watch "Milk"
last night,
Frank, M.D.
i say " i am Dr.XXX , I am a Physician working with the hospital, how are you ms. smith"
ReplyDeleteDr. D
ReplyDeleteSometimes I LMAO when I read your responses to Happy's posts, but, sometimes you scare the s*** out of me, and I wouldn't want to be alone with you in an elevator! I hope you aren't lurking in midwestern hospitals...
-Second career nursing student
I knew a terrific cardiothoracic surgeon who always introduced himself as "I'm a heart and lung surgeon" and never once had to explain it.
ReplyDeleteI think your intro is letter perfect. (Anon, I wouldn't say you're working with the hospital, as that brings into question whose best interests come first).
GruntDoc
I have always hated the term "primary care" and it is a manufactured term that health insurance companies made up for managed care and to lump everyone together as "providers". I say I'm a specialist in Internal Medicine. For the term primary care patients say "Oh you're just a GP". It's the "just" that is insulting.
ReplyDeleteI think it's reasonable to introduce yourself that way.
ReplyDelete