The Medical Professionalism Blog
Tag Archives: communication
It Was Just a Cough: Wasteful and Potentially Harmful Medicine
Over the past year I’ve written much about the Choosing Wisely® campaign, but a recent personal experience serves as the inspiration for this post.
Choosing Wisely®: Can Stories and Emotions Produce Change?
At the recent annual meeting of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Fred Hafferty of the Mayo Clinic and I gave a presentation on the effect systems have on the professional behaviors of clinicians. I asked the 100 or so attendees if they thought intrinsic (i.e., personal satisfaction and mastery) or extrinsic (i.e., payment) motivators [...]
Choosing Wisely®: Kinder Ways of Thinking About Resource Use
The goal of the Choosing Wisely campaign is to encourage conversations between patients and physicians about what tests and procedures are, or are not needed. We hope these conversations provide an opportunity to talk about the benefits and risks of tests and procedures, including potential harms for patients. Choosing Wisely is about thoughtful discussions and [...]
Choosing Wisely®: Changing Words is Altering Health Care Policy and Conversations
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate as a tax rather than as a permissible use of Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause was a reframing of the legislative issue with real meaning and consequences for the law’s survival.
Choosing Wisely®: It is All About the Conversation
From our communications research, we’ve learned that one of the most difficult challenges physicians say they face in talking to their patients about why a test or procedure is not necessary or will not alter a treatment plan is they simply don’t have enough time during a regular office visit. They often say that if [...]
Recommended Reading June 23 – 29
This week saw the publication of a number of articles and blog posts related to key issues in medical professionalism. Our roundup includes: Can medical professionalism be taught? A blog post from the Canadian Medical Association Journal examines the question. In the most recent issue of Academic Medicine, Lucian Leape, MD and colleagues discuss how [...]
Reflections on the ABIM Foundation Professionalism Article Prize
This year, the ABIM Foundation awarded the second annual Professionalism Article Prizes. Throughout 2011, Foundation staff tracked the medical professionalism literature, which was comprised of over 100 articles. We appreciate the work of the winning authors, along with all the authors who published articles on professionalism this year. The Professionalism Article Prize provides needed recognition [...]
Doctor, How Much Does It Cost?
In January, I wrote about my surgical experience for a detached retina. Since then, I met Neel Shah and learned about his organization, Costs of Care. I also read the essays of his essay contest winners. Neel wants to bring awareness of the cost of specific tests and treatments to physicians and patients alike.
Questioning the Price
Costs of Care (Twitter: @CostsOfCare), where this post was originally published, is a Boston-based, non-profit organization that helps caregivers deflate medical bills and provide high value care. As part of the 2011 Costs of Care Essay Contest, more than 100 anecdotes were shared by patients and providers around the country that illustrate the role of cost-awareness [...]
Recommended Reading – February 6-10, 2012
As the ABIM Foundation embarks on its Choosing WiselyTM campaign, it hopes to stimulate conversations about the need to use resources wisely. This week’s JAMA Viewpoint, The Harms of Screening: New Attention to an Old Concern, discusses why limitations should be set on screenings—both to prevent harm to patients and manage resources. But how ready [...]
Recent Comments