JohnWyatt Crosby
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
- 7/25/2011
Patients with lists—kill me now
I once asked my auto mechanic if he liked customers coming in with lists of things for him to fix on their cars. He said, “Of course; I can bill them for each repair and have them leave their vehicle for the day.” As doctors we can't do this. I think it’s tacky (and so do the colleges) to put a note up in your waiting room saying only one problem per visit. - 7/18/2011
Doctor, why aren't you computerized?
The recent National Physician Survey showed that only 40% of Canadian doctors are totally paperless. Why is this? There are a number of reasons but they can all be overcome. - 7/11/2011
Dealing with work weasels
We all have patients who work hard at getting out of work. Their co-workers, bosses and loved ones know this, as do we and our staff. These patients usually gravitate to doctors who are easily manipulated, like Dr. Summeroff. With the doctor shortage, they often have to stick with us. We want to be fair to the patient but not get taken advantage of—a delicate balance. - 7/4/2011
Hold the phone: a huge time waster for doctors
The phone is one the biggest interrupters for doctors. I have no phones in my exam rooms and in my office the phone doesn't ring; it rings on my secretary's desk so she can screen all calls. Patients love speaking to a real person who knows them. - 6/27/2011
What to do when you have too many patients
A few years back when I was giving a talk on physician stress at a conference in Jamaica (there's the cure right there), a doctor stood up and said he had a practice of more than 4,000 patients and he became so burned out that he quit and was now working at a walk-in clinic. What a sad ending for the patients and for him. Here are some ideas he might have tried before it came to this. - 6/19/2011
Forget freedom 55. Here’s how to semi-retire
With the stock market recently scaring everyone to death, many MDs (including me) are nervously putting off retirement. I spoke with a number of semi-retired GPs and specialists from across Canada who are in their 70s, and the news is good. - 6/5/2011
Delegating: an underrated and underused skill
Most family physicians have never been taught how to properly delegate. The key is to shift the initiative. Get your staff to stop dumping the problems on you and instead bring you the solutions. - 5/17/2011
No more free lunch, and other ways to ease the expense of healthcare
Why is healthcare so expensive? Because doctors are expected to be perfect. If not, we have the patient, her family and friends, our professional college, the courts and the media looking over our shoulders. Today's patients are demanding and informed, and they don't want to get sick, wear out or die.
