By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth 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
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • 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
    The Real Debate: Who Should Pay If Providers Fail to Curb Medicare Costs — Seniors or the Government?
    August 16, 2012
    sovaldi treatment
    Hooray for High-Priced Hepatitis Treatment Sovaldi
    April 4, 2014
    Innovating Healthcare System Strategy: Creating the Commercial ACO
    September 30, 2012
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 20, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 20, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 20, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Why Doctors Need To Listen To And Understand The Patient’s “Perspectives” – A True Story
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Why Doctors Need To Listen To And Understand The Patient’s “Perspectives” – A True Story
Hospital AdministrationWellness

Why Doctors Need To Listen To And Understand The Patient’s “Perspectives” – A True Story

Steve Wilkins
Steve Wilkins
Share
8 Min Read
Definition of Listening
SHARE

Perhaps the most fundamental principle of “patient-centered care” is for clinicians to understand the patient’s perspective regarding key aspects of a care episode.

Contents
  • What Am I Trying To Say
  • My Point?
  • The Take Away?
  • Sources:

Here’s a real life example that just happened to my wife and I that should help you understand what the patient’s perspective is…and why it matters.

Perhaps the most fundamental principle of “patient-centered care” is for clinicians to understand the patient’s perspective regarding key aspects of a care episode.

Here’s a real life example that just happened to my wife and I that should help you understand what the patient’s perspective is…and why it matters.

More Read

Immune System
Don’t Let These 3 Mistakes Lower Your Immune System
Family Caregivers Live Longer Than Non-Caregivers: Mortality Rates 18% Lower
5 Interesting Things You Didn’t Know About Blood Vessels
Emergency On-Call Physician Policy – A Doctor Dissents
Improving Patient Satisfaction: What’s Holding Doctors Back?

Definition of ListeningFor the past week my wife, who is being treated for severe recurrence of lung cancer, has developed fever and chills which present in the early evening.  I notified her Oncologist when the fevers first started.  Upon my wife’s suggestion (she is an RM) a urine sample was taken and evaluated.   She had a UTI and was put on antibiotics.  But the fever (and infection) continued.   Each episode begins with a fever and progresses to chills, coughing, vomiting and disorientation. The episodes last for an hour and then goes away after which my wife sleeps and is fine. That was until yesterday …

Yesterday, while in her oncologist’s office, the fever and chills set in very fast. I did what I could to keep her warm (which is impossible in any doctor’s office) and reassure the staff that this was a “syndrome” she experienced every day presumably as the result of a recent urinary tract infections. The doctor and staff would have none of my explanation …they said she need to go to the ER immediately.  I said “if I take her to the ER she will die … and that I would take her home instead and let the fever run its’ course” as it had up until then.

I tried to explain to the Oncologist that on 3 prior occasions when I took my wife to an ER (in a different town for other reasons) the ER doctors wanted to re-diagnose my wife’s cancer … or worse … diagnose her as being septic and having pneumonia (when she wasn’t and didn’t).   Turns out my wife’s symptoms and chest X-rays mimic those of sepsis and pneumonia.  I was afraid it would happen again if we did what the Oncologist said.  I asked the Oncologist to call the ER and give them a heads up concerning my wife’s condition and a working diagnosis.

He wouldn’t do it.  He wanted the ER to do a diagnostic work up of my wife.  In my mind this confirmed in my mind  that if we went to the ER it would be another nightmare.

What Am I Trying To Say

As my wife’s caregiver, I had a very definite, unmistakable reaction to the doctor’s recommendation that my wife be taken to the ER.  My reaction was based upon my prior ER experiences with my wife – bad experiences which began with a misdiagnosis in the ER, unquestioning acceptance of the diagnosis by hospitalists, followed by the incorrect treatment, intervention by specialists and extended hospital stays.

My reaction was to blow off the Oncologists advice.  He didn’t seem to hear me when I described how my wife’s fever came and went.  I just got the sense that the doctor want scared and wanted us out of his office.   The Oncologist did not want to hear about our previous ER experiences.  He just wanted me to do what I was told.  This doctor has a strong ego and is definitely physician-centered (versus patient centered).

Luckily I took my wife to the ER.  She had a BP of 60/40 and a temperature of 105O.  She was later admitted to the ICU with sepsis caused by an infection.

My Point?

The point of this story is that if the Oncologist took the time to listen to “our story” concerning our previous ER experiences (our health perspective) he would have better understood why I reacted to his advice the way I did.  Had he listened to and understood our story maybe he would have called the ER doctor to give him some “back story” on my wife. But he didn’t … he wouldn’t and that cause me to distrust him and his clinical advice.

Had the Oncologist even told us that my wife had a temperature of 105O or a very low BP I would have done what he recommended. But he didn’t …and I was too stressed to ask.

I’ll bet our experience is like those of many patients and family members today.

The Take Away?

I know I sound like a broken record but the solution is for physicians to become more patient-centered.  This means learning how to think about patients differently … and in turn how to talk with patient differently.

Specifically it means understanding where their patients (and family members) are coming from.  In my case, by understanding that we all come with “baggage” that shapes how we think and behave.  My comment to the effect that “if I take my wife to the ER she will die” should have promoted a “why do you say that?” comment from my wife’s Oncologist.   But that never happened and I am sure the doctor thinks I am a total moron.

I learned an important lesson as well.   Usually physicians do know what’s in the patient’s best interest.  I learned that sometime its’ better to compliant and alive than disagreeable and dead.

It’s just seems however that there has to be a better, win-win scenario than patients always needing to “go along to get along.”

Sources:

Jagosh, J., Donald, J., Steinert, Y., Ellen, M., & Ingram, L. (2011).  The importance of physician listening from the patients ’ perspective : Enhancing diagnosis , healing , and the doctor – patient relationship. Patient Education and Counseling, 85(3), 369-374. 

The post Why Doctors Need To Listen To And Understand The Patient’s “Perspectives” – A True Story appeared first on Mind The Gap.

Photo via Shutterstock

TAGGED:medical practicespatientsPhysicians
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

predictive search and health care
DiagnosticseHealthHome HealthMobile HealthRemote Diagnostics

Predictive Search: The Health Care Angle

August 1, 2013

During Nurses Strike, Patient Dies Due to Medical Error

September 26, 2011
Image
Wellness

The Planet’s Healthiest Foods – Everything You Have To Know

June 25, 2012

Rooibos Tea Health Benefits: Antioxidants Plus Anti-Diabetic

September 7, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?