Listen to the latest BlogTalkRadio show!

This is pretty cool. It’s called BlogTalkRadio and you can listen on the internet.

The first show for "Your Doctor Said What" is tomorrow, Sunday 1 April 2007 at 4 p.m. Central time.

You can call in and discuss any doctor-patient communication issues you have (no medical advice is given).

Call-in Number is 718-664-9958 - Listen here 

Talk to you tomorrow!

Terrie

It’s Friday the 13th so I thought we ought to start the show tonight by talking about bad luck and how to avoid it with your doctor!Join me at 8 pm Central (6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern), won’t you?Terrie

Join me this Sunday at 4 p.m. Central (2 p.m. Pacific, 3 p.m. Mountain, 5 p.m. Eastern) for a special guest, Dr. Signe Dayhoff.

Dr. Dayhoff will talk about self-presentation anxiety in  speaking with authority figures, such as physicians. She’ll be on the show and available to take calls too. Visit her website at http://www.Effectiveness-Plus.com

Remember to ASK your questions about anything to do with Doctor-Patient Communication (not medical advice) here.

Talk to you Sunday!

Terrie

John Roman is a great interviewer! He’s on SuperTalk 1570 AM WWCK-AM in Flint, MI. What terrific questions he asked. He even gave me a suggestion I’d never thought of - why don’t doctors tape (audio - although we did discuss the video and decided we were glad that didn’t happen) the interviews with their clients? What a great idea.
Enjoy the show:

Terrie

I had another great guest on! I’m so very fortunate to have such knowledgeable people on my show. Reverend Rebecca McCulloh is the pastor at the Chapel Hill Christian Church in North Carolina and is also a mental health counselor.

She talked about how ministers (and mental health) people often are the first people to be called after a person has been to the doctor (and often while they are still at the doctor’s office or in the ER.

She also mentioned CaringBridge a place where people can communicate with others about their medical problems - this saves alot of time and energy calling everyone or even emailing everyone. Check it out.

Enjoy the show.

Terrie

Another great show. The media player on the left sidebar seems to have the volume low. I hope it wasn’t like that on the actual show. But I have a recording here that you can play and should have better luck.

I had two terrific guests:

Dr. Signe Dayhoff is a Social Psychologist and author. A coach & trainer for over 20 years, she helps individuals struggling with self-presentation anxiety (which includes fear of small talk, stage fright, and self-promotion reluctance) to present themselves confidently and competently. She also helps you master interpersonal communication skills so you can be socially effective in almost any personal or work situation. Check out her website at http://www.effectiveness-plus.com .

My second guest was a long time friend of mine, Wendy Gelberg. She has been a career coach/advisor and resume writer since 1995, working with people at all stages in their careers and in a multitude of occupations and industries, from entry level to executives. Prior to that, she held jobs as a high school history teacher, a college instructor (educational tests and measurement), a secretary at a university, and a career coach at a career center. Her passion is teaching, in classroom/workshop settings and one-on-one, and she loves facilitating those “aha” moments when people discover information that is meaningful and helpful to them. Check her website at http://www.gentlejobsearch.com .

Both these women discussed the fact that there isn’t much difference between dealing with authority figures in everyday life  and dealing with doctors. I hope you enjoy the show.

I also mentioned two great websites that I’m going to put on the links. These are terrific patient advocate sites and have excellent information for you.

They are www.everypatientsadvocate.com and www.diagKNOWsis.com

Check ‘em out and see if they don’t give you good information.

Terrie

Here’s the show:

Last night’s radio show was great. We discussed the reason that angry and frustrated doctors pull even further into their communication shell and in so doing, they interfere with a patient’s adherence to instructions and modalities intended to get them well. This discussion was based on research done by Dr. Jodi Halpern

Then we discussed 5 mistakes effective patient advocates can avoid. This discussion came from an article by Dr. Vicki Rackner.

Enjoy the show and see you next Friday night!

Terrie

Hi There,

Another fun time on the radio tonight - that’s BlogTalkRadio! We talked about several things on the show:

1) I discussed an entry from a malpractice lawyer’s blog where he said that many people call his office to discuss medical care they or a loved one received which resulted in some type of problem. Many believe that JUST because some complication occurred that the doctor or the hospital must have done something wrong and therefore they think they have a viable malpractice lawsuit.  He said that frequently the real problem is lack of good communication between the doctor and the patient (or family). Often his clients say the doctor never told them what happened or fully discussed the problems or complications. He urged patients to open a dialogue with their phyicians and ask as many questions as possible. I felt this was an excellent assessment of the communication problem we have in the U.S.

2) Then I talked about the new recommended reform from the American Academy of Family Physiicans "America’s Family Physicians Join Major Employers and Other Physicians to Revolutionize America’s Health Care System". 
“In a health care environment where there is a growing unease among patients and employers alike about the rising costs and declining quality of health care, America’s family physicians believe every patient should have a personal medical home – a trusted source of primary care,” said Rick Kellerman, M.D., President of the AAFP. 

The patient-centered medical home model promises value not only to patients but to the health care system as a whole. Unlike the current system, which rewards high-volume, over-specialized and inefficient care, the patient-centered medical home is based on the premise that the best health care has a strong primary care foundation and strives for quality and efficiency. Most importantly, it returns the focus back to the patient and is built by an ongoing relationship between a patient and his or her personal physician. 

In a patient-centered medical home:

What a terrific concept, don’t you think? Thanks to the American Academy of Family Physicians!

3) I talked about a "Clinical Empathy" (bedside manner) course being presented at the Medical College of Virginia. Empathy is what I knew as "Bedside Manner" - you know the old Marcus Welby, M.D.  This course teaches young doctors and medical students the interviewing techniques that will show the patients that they really do care and are listening to them and their problems. Unfortunately as technology advances, the interpersonal relationship between the physician and the patient suffers - to the detriment of each. Doctors do not know how to listen or talk to patients - they know how to Diagnose - that is primarily what they are taught. This is a great concept and  I certainly hope this pilot program persists.

4) Finally I shared 3 things that inhibit effective communication between physicians and patients:

• The patients are only able to spend 7-10 minutes with the doctor
• Few patients remember more than the first and last thing the doctor tells them
• Doctors do NOT know they CAN’T communicate.

 It was a fact filled night. Enjoy the replay.

Terrie

On IN SHORT ORDER, Thursday, June 28th at 9:00PM EST, Sue Vogan and Dr. Terrie Wurzbacher will be talking about healthcare and taking questions that have been on your mind.

 Patients: Do you ever wonder why your concerns were not being addressed at your doctor’s visit? Is there a way to prepare for an upcoming trip to see your physician? Do you think your doctor is talking in a foreign language? Do you understand the gatekeepers’ jobs? Do you get nervous at your appointment or are embarrassed to discuss your symptoms?  Is there anything you can do to help your physician take better care of you? 

 Doctors: Do you have a patient who never answers the questions you ask? Do you get the feeling that you’re working on an assembly line? Do your patients have that deer-in-the-headlight look when you speak? Are you truly hearing your patients? Is there anything you can do to help make the visit easier on your patient?

 Well, tune into In Short Order and take the mystery out of your doctor/patient relationship! Dr. Terrie Wurzbacher and Sue Vogan will be talking about ways to prepare, communicate, and, if all else fails, move on when it comes to your healthcare.

 You are invited to call in with questions, comments or your best doctor/patient story.

 The call-in hours are Thursdays, 6PM Pacific - 8PM Central - 9PM Eastern USA and Canada Toll Free Line is 1-888-762-8153 extension 897 International Callers may call

1-321-253-9667 The worldwide show at www.highway2health.net

 Sue Vogan is a published author, journalist, book reviewer, and Lyme disease advocate – www.suevogan.com.

 Dr. Terrie Wurzbacher has been a physician for over 30-years, retired from the U.S. Navy, and is currently an ER doctor in Texas. She is also the author of, “Your Doctor Said What?” – www.yourdoctorsaidwhat.com

Dr. Terri Wurzbacher Every 4th Thursday!

Beginning June 28, 2007, Dr. Terri Wurzbacher will be joining Sue Vogan on In Short Order. Dr. Wurzbacher will be on every 4th Thursday of each month. You can "Ask The Doctor!" If you have a question for Dr. Wurzbacher, you can email sue@suevogan.com or your can send an instant message to suelymer97 at Yahoo Instant Messenger (YIM now or during the show) or you can call in during the show at Toll Free 888-762-8153 ex: 897 or local and International at 1-321-253-9334 to ask a question on air. Have a suggestion for a show? Email Sue at sue@suevogan.com.