DOC News February 1, 2007
Volume 4 Number 2 p. 12
© 2007 American Diabetes Association
Insights From the Trenches
Some of the most important aspects of clinical practice aren't taught
in medical schools. Textbooks are chock-full of information about
diseases and their treatments, but they fall short as references on human
nature.
The subtle and profound truths about people are gleaned from working in
the clinic—dealing with the variety of issues, problems, and situations
that walk through the door. Every clinician probably has learned something,
some nugget of wisdom, that isn't found in a book or lecture.
DOC News asked:
What is the most important thing you've learned from caring for people
with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease?
Every patient is an individual. My therapy has to be tailored according to
the individual. There is no one therapy that is going to cure all.
Eric Saunders, MD Endocrinologist Durham, England U.K.
Never leave the patient wishing you could have done more for them. You
sleep badly, thinking that something might go wrong, and they leave thinking
they got second-class care.... They're the most important person in the world
when they're in front of you. If you don't do your best for them, they're your
worst nightmare because you can't forget about them.
David Gray, MD Cardiologist Nottingham, England U.K.
If you're trying to modify risk in a population of individuals as
significant as those with diabetes, clinicians—unless they're incredibly
patient and willing to sit down and take the time to do teaching with each
follow-up visit—are not going to achieve the kind of compliance you'd
like to see. If you expect to have patients follow in line with your desire to
micromanage them, you have to be willing to take the time....
Vincent Aquino, MD Cardiologist Houston, Texas
TALK BACK: PATIENT PERCEPTIONS
According to NAASO, the Obesity Society, biased perceptions among
caregivers that obese patients are weak-willed can harm the caregiver-patient
relationship. An unintended consequence of bias is that many obese patients,
especially women, will cancel or delay primary care appointments, which
exacerbates the patient's
condition.
What do you think? Is there a bias among medical providers toward obese
patients?
Send your comments to
docnews{at}diabetes.org.
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