By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    What Are the Benefits of CBD?
    November 27, 2021
    How to Measure Adult Diapers- The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Size
    March 8, 2022
    medicine cabinet
    The Effect Of Finished Dosage Form Manufacturing In New Drugs
    July 5, 2022
    Latest News
    3 Ways To Deal With Health Issues In Cities With High Pollution
    March 22, 2023
    What Tools Should Your Caregiver Have?
    March 22, 2023
    How to Combat Home Sickness After Moving Abroad
    March 19, 2023
    4 Ways to Recover from a Broken Hip
    March 14, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    How crazy is Ted Cruz’s FDA reform proposal?
    January 4, 2016
    How a New Patient Experience Model Will Drive the Future of Connected Healthcare?
    July 10, 2018
    19 Ways to Recognize You’re a Neonatal Therapist
    August 19, 2011
    Latest News
    What Are Bioidentical Hormones Made With?
    March 23, 2023
    Cover Medical Costs of Child Dog Bites with Legal Specialists
    March 23, 2023
    3 Ways to Improve the U.S. Healthcare System By 2030
    March 14, 2023
    6 Steps To Ensure Speed And Efficiency Of Clinical Studies
    March 14, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: A New Kind of Stress Test
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
The Best Natural Sleep Remedies & Aids
The Best Natural Sleep Remedies & Aids
Wellness
Bioidentical Hormones
What Are Bioidentical Hormones Made With?
Medical Education
chemical peels for skin disorders
Chemical Peels Can Do Wonders for Treating Skin Disorders
Skin
health benefits of lip enhancements
Cleveland Clinic Cites Health Benefits of Lip Enhancements
lifestyle
child dog bite lawyer
Cover Medical Costs of Child Dog Bites with Legal Specialists
News
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > A New Kind of Stress Test
Health ReformMedical InnovationsTechnologyWellness

A New Kind of Stress Test

Michael Kirsch
Last updated: 2015/05/26 at 10:00 AM
Michael Kirsch
Share
0 Min Read
SHARE
Readers of this blog, and those with whom I have shared my philosophy of medical practice, know that I am a conservative practitioner.   I rail against overdiagnosis and overtreatment.  Less medicine results in more healing and protection.  In an example, I have explained previously why I advise patients not to undergo total body scans, despite the lure that they offer a cancerophobic public. 

<

Readers of this blog, and those with whom I have shared my philosophy of medical practice, know that I am a conservative practitioner.   I rail against overdiagnosis and overtreatment.  Less medicine results in more healing and protection.  In an example, I have explained previously why I advise patients not to undergo total body scans, despite the lure that they offer a cancerophobic public. 

I’ve never undergone a CXR in my life.   I’ve never entered medicine’s Tunnel of Adventure, also known as a CAT scan.  My fear would be that the scan would show various internal imperfections of no meaning that would generate anxiety, expense and a cascade of medical tests to follow up on the ‘abnormalities’.  Any real patient reading this who has been around the block once or twice, will validate my scanophobia.   Not a week goes by in my practice, that I am not facing a worried patient who was found to have some trivial finding on a scan that nearly always is entirely innocent.  Often, the scan was not necessary in the first place.

Not surprisingly, I have never had a stress test.  I should say that I have never had a cardiac stress test.  As a living breathing human being, I face stress tests every day.  Not sure what I mean here?  Consider the last time you called an airline’s customer service representative.   If you have done so and have not suffered angina during process, then you are likely to have no significant coronary artery disease.  You have passed the stress test.

As I write this, I am seated in the Detroit airport, waiting for my connecting flight to take me to Boston.   Every aspect of air travel is a stress test; from the moment that I book tickets on line to the time that I sink into the plush and spacious seat that can comfortably accommodate a skinny gerbil. 

I have just discovered that my flight is delayed 50 minutes, or so they say.  I fear that the dreaded Delay Creep (DC) might set in here.  Here’s how this works.  They announce a 50 minute delay.  Forty minutes later, the delay is extended 35 minutes.  A half hour later, an announcement advises the smiling passengers that an update will be forthcoming at a time of their choosing.   DC in its purest form ends hours later with the flight’s cancellation.   My mom had this exact experience  on her way to visit me in Cleveland.  Did the $14.00 food voucher make her whole?

Air Travel is Stressful
The Wright Brothers – 1903

Patients have complained long before I earned a medical degree about unreasonable waits to see their doctor.  We do our best to run an on time shop, but there are times that we miss the mark.  Sometimes, it is our fault.  We come to the office late.  We squeeze patients into the schedule rather than add them on at the end of the day or tomorrow.  We don’t build in ‘firebreaks’ into the schedule knowing that every day brings delays that are not anticipated.  For example, if at the conclusion of a patient’s office visit, the patient’s tells me that her husband has cancer, should my response be, “Our time is up today, but please give him my best wishes”?

Sometimes, patients cause delays by arriving late or not doing the paperwork that we request to be done in advance.   Additionally, some of our elderly need extra time at home to get ready and need transportation to get to our office.  For the most obvious reasons, sometimes they just don’t make it on time despite their intentions to do so.  When this happens, which of the following responses do readers advise?

“Glad you made it!  Take a few deep breaths in the waiting room and we’ll be with you as soon as we can.”

“Back of the line, Granny!”

Some emergency rooms are using Twitter and other means to update their patients on the wait time.

Can physicians improve in their on-time performance?  We have seen in recent years that there is a potent force that can influences physician behavior.  Reimbursement.  If payment is linked to how long you have to wait for us, then our schedules will run like a Swiss chronometer.

Everyone’s time is valuable.   The next time you’re in the waiting room, consider any extra waiting time to be a gift.  This is your opportunity to collect your thoughts, read another chapter or two of a gripping novel, write a thank you note to someone in longhand or consider buying a gift for a special person for no reason.   Don’t make it a stress test.

 

Healthcare patients / shutterstock

More Read

obese and importance of weight loss

Obese? 5 Reasons You Should Lose Weight (Some Are Surprising!)

How To Combat Poor Sleep Without Medication
How Diet and Exercise Can Boost Your Mood
How HRV Can Help You Monitor Your Health and Wellbeing
Colleges Prove the Huge Benefits of AI in Healthcare Education
TAGGED: change in healthcare, hospital admin, patient care, physician performance

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Michael Kirsch May 26, 2015
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Image Beyond the Buzz: A Beginner’s Guide to Facebook Advertising for Your Healthcare Brand
Next Article Interview With Giovanna Marsico, on Patients and Digital Tools #doctors20

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

The Best Natural Sleep Remedies & Aids
The Best Natural Sleep Remedies & Aids
Wellness March 23, 2023
Bioidentical Hormones
What Are Bioidentical Hormones Made With?
Medical Education March 23, 2023
chemical peels for skin disorders
Chemical Peels Can Do Wonders for Treating Skin Disorders
Skin March 23, 2023
health benefits of lip enhancements
Cleveland Clinic Cites Health Benefits of Lip Enhancements
lifestyle March 23, 2023

You Might also Like

The Best Natural Sleep Remedies & Aids
Wellness

The Best Natural Sleep Remedies & Aids

March 23, 2023
boost body energy level
Wellness

The Best Natural Ways to Boost Your Body Energy & Focus

March 22, 2023
virtual reality in optometry
Technology

What Are the Implications of Virtual Reality in Optometry?

March 22, 2023
valueable healthcare programs
News

5 Most Valuable Healthcare Programs in 2023

March 8, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?