Things you don't want to hear while interviewing a new patient:
1. "Oh, I must have forgotten to write that down."
2. "My neighbor swears by it so I started last year."
3. "My father? Uh, he died young."
4. "I like it when you return my calls promptly."
5. "I know - no one ever believes me. But, here - I'll show you."
6. "I want you to have these handouts I found on the internet."
7. "My son wants you to call him - he worries about me."
8. "That's my wife, Doc - not my mother."
9. "You look cute in that shirt and tie."
10. "This is the first time I've left my house since 1956."*
*true story; a patient I saw four years ago. I won't say any more since no one would believe me anyway...
Comments
I love the list! All true.
I once had a veteran who hadn't seen a doctor since his induction in the Korean War. He came for a cold or something. He had a huge neck mass. I asked him, "How long has that been there?" and he replied, "How long has what been there?"
Posted by: PalMD | August 23, 2007 1:06 PM