Physicians everywhere are having to deal with ever-shrinking time slots with their patients. Every doctor (or nurse) would love to have more time if possible, and it’s probably one the biggest frontline frustrations for any clinician who wants to do a good job. Time to go over the history in more detail, examine the patient thoroughly, and then spend adequate time discussing everything afterwards. Wouldn’t that be nice?
The reality though of most health care systems is that physicians are not afforded that luxury (it’s certainly not something unique to the United States, and may even be worse in many other developed nations). With surging demand, falling reimbursements and more complex diagnoses and treatments — this time restraint issue only seems likely to get worse. The question then is not how do we keep wishing for that utopian amount of time, but rather, how do we make the most out of the time we have and use it to its maximum potential? How do we still make any patient feel well cared for, give them a decent health care experience, but still remain focused and time efficient?
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
