The WSJ has a section in which one of its correspondents goes on a road trip looking at how the stimulus package is affecting small communities. If you check out their Health Blog you can see some footage of a primary care doctor interviewing/examining a patient. There is a You Tube bit that goes along with it. The doc does fine and makes a nice diagnosis of Zoster as well as explains the benefits of an electronic medical record. What bothers me the most, however, is something totally different. Without being too critical, why does he have his patient get in that paper gown before he gets into the room? Why does he interview her while she is wearing what may be the most uncomfortable material in the world? She may as well be wearing a Brillo pad dress. I am sure the doctor is intelligent and he sounds empathetic but I just couldn't stop looking at that outfit she was wearing. Listen, I am not the greatest doctor in the world. This dude is probably smarter and nicer than me for all I know. If there is one thing, however, that young doctors should learn is that NO ONE is at ease while sitting in a chair and wearing an origami outfit. All the doctor has to do is interview the patient in her street clothes first and then come back after she gets into that "gown". Oh, and while we are at, with all the fashion shows on the cable channels, can we get just one designer to make something for patients to wear that is more palatable and still be sanitary?
Posts
