Doctors and patients live in different time zones.
What do I mean by this?
As doctors, medical principles are known to me. I don’t need a lot of time to get to a working hypothesis about the cause of the symptoms of the patient and about a treatment plan.
However, when I try to discuss the information with the child and their parents I need to “slow down” to their speed.
Overtaking “patient-speed”
When I explain new principles too fast or describe treatment plans too quickly, they cannot take it in. With a fast approach I make it impossible for them to take anything in. Doctors and patients live in different time zones.
Why is that?
The cause for this is partially due to the fear and stress, that is part of any encounter in the health care setting. Another aspect is of course the different levels of understanding about how the body works and what steps for treatment are recommended.
Why is this a problem?
Time is the most valuable commodity in life.
Our time as doctors is pricey and therefore very filled with tasks. As a result, we try to help as many patients as possible at any given time.
With this mindset, the need to slow down and to adjust our speed to “patient-speed” can trigger annoyance and even anger.
And of course when we become angry, we struggle to connect with them.
In a nutshell:
Doctors and patients live in different time zones.
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