It usually starts with a phone call:
“Doc, can I come and talk to you about something?”
The “something” might be erectile difficulties or other side effect(s) from prostate cancer treatment. It might be confusion or indecision about what treatment to agree to. I always inform the caller that any of these issues are better resolved if their spouse/partner is present and then leave it at that. I can make referrals to a pelvic floor physiotherapist for the man who has incontinence issues. I work with social workers who can deal with financial challenges or applications for social assistance. There are always men who want to complain about how they were treated by a member of the health care team and these I can refer to the patient ombudsman who handles these complaints so efficiently. I have a list of marriage and family therapists if after an initial assessment it seems that the couple’s problems are beyond my scope of practice or expertise. Those are the “easy” conversations.
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
