JohnWyatt Crosby
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
- 9/10/2011
Why doctors are slow? No competition
Unfortunately we physicians are often slow and make patients wait because we can. I have heard doctors brag that the wait for patients to see them is months long. I always wonder if these doctors think this is a good thing. - 8/28/2011
Time-managing hospitals: to dream the impossible dream
As doctors we often have small offices with a few staff. When we get to the hospital we are confronted with perhaps a $100-million budget and thousands of employees. It's a real culture shock and you have to adjust your thinking to get along with the bureaucracy needed to control these hordes. Here are my tips for surviving your local hospital. - 8/18/2011
How to make the most of working with medical students
A lot of doctors are loath to take on students, as they find them a burden. On the contrary, if supervised properly they can enhance your efficiency and care. - 8/8/2011
Seniors are worth more of your time
Seniors have all the time in the world and you have none. They often have many diseases and medications and love to chat. You are often the highlight of their day (week or month). They are wonderful people to look after—wise and respectful patients with great stories. Here is my approach. - 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.
