Patient Perspective! Life improvement strategies for the surgeon who wants more … in 10 minutes – Episode 115

Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast hip and knee arthroplasty surgeon, patient and peer advocate, Dr. Peter Gold.

Physicians can gain valuable insights by seeing things from the patient's perspective. Dr. Gold tragically gained this perspective in 2015 when he was shot in the stomach while trying to stop a robbery. Thankfully, he made a full recovery and is now thriving as a practicing surgeon. Experiencing trauma surgery as a patient was an eye-opening experience for him.

Physicians have a lot to manage in patient care, but there are times when we should slow down to recognize that patients might be scared, worried, or nervous, and often don't know what's going on. Knowing that probability can help us become better physicians and connect more easily with patients. 

Slow down. Pause. 

If you ensure your patient understands what you're saying, you will likely assuage their fears. That’s when we should display confidence and impart knowledge as physicians. 

What steps does Peter suggest we take to see things from a patient’s perspective?

• Step 1 - Remember that patients are likely scared, stressed, or experiencing other negative emotions. This might be just another Tuesday for you, but for your patient, this is a new or difficult experience.
• Step 2 -  Slow down. Taking a moment to slow yourself down when talking to a patient can make a huge difference. It shows that you care about their situation.
• Step 3 - Convey and boost confidence by imparting knowledge. Tell your patient what you know, what you don’t know, and what you’re going to do about their situation. Knowledge breeds confidence in both the patient and the physician.

Most importantly, practice having a patient’s perspective!

Guest BIO

Peter Gold, MD is a hip and knee arthroplasty surgeon at Panorama Orthopedic & Spine Center in Denver Colorado. He completed his residency at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a joints fellowship at The Rothman Orthopedic Institute. He is active in AAHKS as the secretary of the Young Arthroplasty Group and a previous health policy fellow. He also runs a nonprofit organization in New Orleans, Strong City, which aims to support the future of underserved youth.

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