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A Wide Variety of Challenging Patients
Each day, this doctor has to give care to a wide variety of challenging patients. As a practice owner, these patients represent his livelihood.
Being in private practice means that the patients are your income, not a bimonthly pay check. Therefore you must have the time, patience, and compassion to listen to them on the phone or in the office.
Don't you just love the patient that rambles on and doesn't get to the point when you have a busy day? Then there is the patient will a million questions no matter how simple the problem. The angry aggressive individual who is never going to be happy regardless of what happens. The patient who is timid and the spouse is doing all the talking. The demanding patient who wants his tests and care done right this minute.
The elderly patient who is afraid to tell you what is really happening for fear you will find something bad or something that will result in the children taking away the car or forcing them out of the house into assisted living or nursing home. The patient who is terrified due to their diagnosis as deep down they realize their remaining time is very limited.
The fake patient who will say anything they think you might want to hear to get a prescription for a controlled substance. The depressed patient who will not look you in the eye and you hope is not thinking about doing something harmful to themselves. The patient who needs forms filled out by your office and feels this should be a free service as they are special.
These are just a few of the patient types I see every day in the office. Each one requires special care, so that I can treat them properly and that they will stay in the practice. I have a great office manager, Chris, who has a heart of gold and is compassionate with the patience of a saint to help with these and other patients so that I can continue to practice medicine.
I do not drink but I must admit there are days that having one does not seem like a bad idea. I love the practice as it is a challenge every day and each day is different from the last.
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