Spring 2016
PMH STORY
A woman in her late 70’s was having trouble breathing. Her cardiologist referred her directly to a pulmonary specialist who prescribed three different inhalers and multiple tests. The patient tried taking the prescribed medications. She felt certain that the medications were of no help, and made her feel worse instead of better. She did not call the pulmonologist’s office or staff or report the problems with her new medications. Neither did the husband or the patient receive reports or a call with results of the diagnostic studies that were done. Three weeks later, driving to the pulmonologist’s office for a follow-up appointment, the patient became more short of breath and decided to go directly to the emergency room. In the emergency room, it was clear that her problems had grown much worse, and her PMH doctor was called.
The PMH doctor saw the patient in the emergency room and cared for her in the ICU over the next several days. The husband complained to the doctor about their experience with the pulmonary office.
It is not easy to complain. If you know you can tell your story to someone and not be seen as a complainer, you can tell your story in more detail and with confidence. Hearing the complaints of the patient’s husband was very helpful to the PMH doctor, and was helpful to the pulmonologist and the pulmonology team to understand how they might better serve other patients.
The nature of the PMH practice allowed the patient and her husband to feel entitled to express themselves fully to their doctor. They know their doctor. Working with a doctor over time, knowing that the doctor will join you when you are sick in the hospital or the emergency room, and knowing that you can express yourself fully without judgment, can help everyone.
Allan R. Kelly, MD, FACP
THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET By Allan R. Kelly, MD, FACP
Almost a decade ago, Spanish doctors started the PREDIMED Study on the Mediterranean Diet versus a low fat diet to answer the question, “Can diet recommendations change health outcomes?” Investigators in Spain looked at 7147 persons between the ages of 55 and 80 years. Group one received a low fat diet teaching. Group two received a Mediterranean Diet teaching plus 5 ounces of free mixed nuts per week. Group three received the Mediterranean Diet instruction plus 1 liter of extra virgin olive oil (EVO) per week to be used by themselves, family, and friends.
DAYLIGHT SAVING SYNDROME By Robert H. Kelly, MD, FACP
There may well be differences of opinion, but transition to daylight saving time may not be a harmless government regulation. Not only does it require every American to take time out to reprogram clocks and watches (fortunately, our computers and iPhones can do this on their own), but it appears to have adverse health effects. A recent study (Cipila, et al) was presented at the 2016 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING By Allan R. Kelly, MD, FACP
All women know that for years prudent self-care included breast cancer screening. Since the 1980’s, women have been told over and over again to learn about breast self-examination, to have an annual physician examination of the breasts, and to have an annual mammogram in order to follow the guidelines of the American Cancer Society.
PMH QUOTATIONS Spring 2016
“A good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
William Osler, M.D.
“Almost all the current practicing physicians at Dallas Diagnostic Association have reported decreased productivity and decreased satisfaction with the practice of medicine due to burdens imposed by EHR. Dallas Diagnostic Association experienced the premature retirement of 12 physicians in large part due to the adverse impact of EHR.”
Lannie Hughes, 2016 (BUP 29, 2)
“Rather than sitting at the bedside and sharing the suffering of the patient, physicians now spend their time in clinical foxholes on computers and cell phones focusing more on the disease than the person or on technology than touch. . . Just remember the doctors of old – Model them and you’ll be fine.”
Paul Rousseau, M.D., 2016 (JAGS, 64, 645-6)