Problem solved: How do you handle negative comments on RateMDs?

Kicking a skunk It is the disgruntled patients who write the reviews. I would like to rate some of my patients. I stopped reading the reviews, particularly after I saw that some comments referred to dates when I was away. Some referred to procedures that I never performed. I realized there is no benefit to commenting on a review. You are only kicking a skunk. I found them too exasperating to read. I asked the CMPA about legal action and was basically told to “suck it up.” I stopped looking at them 10 years ago. –DR. TOM GILLIS You’re in the arena Listen to Brené Brown’s TED talk (“Why your critics aren’t the ones who count”) about putting herself out there and her hubby telling her, “Don’t read the comments.” She did anyway and had a very hard time regaining her sense of self-worth despite going viral. She says (and I love the last bit): “A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we’re defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.” –DR. ELSPETH MACEWAN Grain of salt Don’t waste time looking at RateMDs. I looked once about five years ago. At the time, I had about 1,500 patients. There were 20 or 30 comments, hardly a representative sample. There were mostly positive comments but also some highly negative ones. For most of them, I could tell who wrote them. I found myself to be equally uncomfortable with the glowing positives as I was with the negative comments. Neither was truly accurate. None of us are as good as the positive comments imply, and neither are we as bad as the negatives imply. If the patients who write negative comments aren’t making complaints to the college, there’s nothing to worry about. Focus on practising good medicine and don’t get distracted by RateMDs. If you can’t resist the urge to constantly monitor RateMDs, talk to a counselling psychologist. –DR. STEPHEN BARRON When you say no As a doctor, you will have to say no to some patients, and they will not like it. As a parent, you have to say no to kids to help them, and they will not like it. You have to say no to antibiotics for viruses. You have to say no to opioids if not indicated. You have to say no to time off work if not indicated. Who cares? I love it when I’m fired by a horrible patient. I do take constructive criticism and change. One woman was upset that I didn’t order a mammogram for those under 50 for screening so since then I explain the Canadian guidelines. –DR. JOHN CROSBY

Problem solved: How do you handle negative comments on RateMDs?

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