Difficult Questions Flashcards
Anxious patient
- ask about anxiousness
- validate with anyone in your situation would be anxious
Angry patient
- inquire about anger
- validate feelings
Crying patient
- offer tissue
- allow them to cry
Pain
- I will be quick and gentle
- offer to make patient more comfortable
Can’t pay for tests
-refer to social worker
Refuses to answer questions
- explain why it is important
- document refusal in note
Unsure of medication names
- ask for list
- bring or fax to clinic
Confused patient
-ask if there is anyone who knows about the problem
Phone encounter
- press yellow button
- no PE so leave it blank on exam
Needs assistance making decisions
-help understand disease or problem management
Should I tell sexual partner about STI
Yes-he or she may be the source of your infection and evaluating both of you is important
Why are you asking me these questions
concerned about your safety
HIV reporting
talk to your wife, must be reported
wrong patient
take vitals again
normal aging
not necessarily-some tests will help us determine if it is normal or not
prefer taking more holistic remedies
check into potential treatment
afraid of surgery
what specifically are you afraid of
come back for testing
serious problem
take care of it before you leave
could not understand question
repeat it slowly
ask if specific word failed
workup
tests to get final diagnosis
ask if too late for recovery
never too late to seek help
do our best to help you
am I going to die
need to do some tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other problems
asking for you to refill script
cannot give refill without first reviewing history
asking if insurance will cover cost
not sure but refer to social worker
can I go back to work
I can write a letter for your employment explaining your situation
tumor becoming malignant
unsure until we get more reports on it
gained weight since smoking
increased risk of cancer and heart problems
other ways to decrease weight
afraid of losing job if not getting better
do our best for recovery and with your permission can convey whats going on to employer
life of misery
what is bothering you? have you thought about ending your life
child home alone right now
social workers to arrange for child care
malingering back pain
not enough on physical exam for being off work
movement is best option along with stretches and pain killers
bleeding and needs transfusion
serious reaction or religious belief or someone died
no answering
please have a seat so that I can help you
keeps repeating questions
inquire as to why
asks question while you are washing your hands
tell him that you want to wait and give him your full attention
needs to take bathroom break
allow and ask if they need any assistance
wants to be examined by another doctor
find out why
reassure that you are qualified and can address concerns
auditory hallucinations asks if crazy
a lot of things can cause this some are psychological
no diagnosis as crazy in medicine
asks if previous doctor made mistake
may have had different treatment plan but made best clinical decision
asks how to deal with gay son
ask if she has any guilt or confused feelings and encourage counseling
hormone replacement treatment and breast cancer
risk of developing breast cancer after long time
goal is low and for as short as possible
patient wants antibiotics
viral
family history of breast cancer
family history plays into it but there are many other factors
removed polyp
depends on what they found and will need a colonoscopy
pregnant even though tubes are tied
no 100% effective contraception
vaginal bleeding in first trimester asking about miscarriage
bleeding increases risk but most women with bleeding carry to term
stop smoking with COPD
gradual improvement
possible appendicitis asks for water
rule out the need for surgery
