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Aristus

(65,985 posts)
Tue Oct 30, 2012, 08:36 PM Oct 2012

I had to tell a patient today fairly firmly to stop texting during the clinic visit.

She was establishing care, and had some mental health issues. And she just casually sent a text off while I was trying to get her past medical history from her. I ignored it the first time, but when she reached for her phone a second time, I told her: "Why don't you put that away for now? Otherwise I'll have to terminate the visit, and we can do this another time."

I felt like a bit of a heel, especially when she teared up after I told her. But seriously!

I was half tempted to tell her that I had a waiting room full of people wanting a visit who wouldn't text during their evaluation...

Fairly interesting day today. I had to send another new patient to the hospital for possible drug overdose. Found out later she had been admitted to the ICU after urine tox revealed a fairly potent drug cocktail in her system.

I'm ready for a drink...

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I had to tell a patient today fairly firmly to stop texting during the clinic visit. (Original Post) Aristus Oct 2012 OP
My dear Aristus! CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2012 #1
I know, right? Aristus Oct 2012 #2
As long as the heel was able to heal, it's all good. Ptah Oct 2012 #3
I'll join you. Merlot, or a tequila shot? spiderpig Oct 2012 #4
Both! 100% agave, followed by a Merlot chaser... Aristus Oct 2012 #6
We're on! spiderpig Oct 2012 #15
Did the fool pipi_k Oct 2012 #13
He kind of laughed it off and said "Sorry!" and continued texting spiderpig Oct 2012 #16
I am amazed at the rudeness of some people these days. driver8 Oct 2012 #17
What really gets me is that these dummies feel entitled to text while operating a 2000-lb spiderpig Oct 2012 #18
That kind of behavior is rude at the best of times. MiddleFingerMom Oct 2012 #5
Thanks, MFM. Aristus Oct 2012 #7
I'd hate to think of what's happening when MFM is being examined ... JustABozoOnThisBus Nov 2012 #25
I Think You Showed Remarkable Restraint Redlo Nosrep Oct 2012 #8
I can relate. Lady Freedom Returns Oct 2012 #9
That's a fact. Aristus Oct 2012 #10
my doctor has his cell phone on... MrsBrady Oct 2012 #11
My doctor told me I needed to stop masterbating bif Oct 2012 #12
She...teared up? alphafemale Oct 2012 #14
That's what a 7-year-old student of mine did Art_from_Ark Nov 2012 #29
Having spent 40 years handling clients/customers, I like to think I have a high tolerance, spiderpig Nov 2012 #19
The great thing about Today is Tsiyu Nov 2012 #20
Tsiyu, I'm going to spend time with friends like you on DU. spiderpig Nov 2012 #22
Sounds like an awesome plan' spiderpig Tsiyu Nov 2012 #26
Well, I'll just have my own planet then! libodem Nov 2012 #21
Avoid Kolob, libodem spiderpig Nov 2012 #23
I worked in Social Service management for over twenty years The empressof all Nov 2012 #24
You handled that quite well. I told an old guy at the car wash who was arguing with the poor cashier sarcasmo Nov 2012 #27
A practitioner (I don't know what degree) had to threaten to call security UTUSN Nov 2012 #28

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,179 posts)
1. My dear Aristus!
Tue Oct 30, 2012, 08:39 PM
Oct 2012

Now wait a minute.......

You need a drink after having dealt with a patient who'd had a drug overdose?




Oh, and I think you did exactly the right thing for your determined texting patient!

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
4. I'll join you. Merlot, or a tequila shot?
Tue Oct 30, 2012, 08:43 PM
Oct 2012

I think of myself as a considerate driver, but I've had to wait during a traffic signal change while pedestrians just kept texting, oblivious to the walk signal, because I know if I turned in front of their dumb butts I'd be responsible for hitting their stupid asses.

I'm 61 years old, and was standing in front of a cafe reading the menu when a 20-something moran body-slammed me as he walked while texting.

Whatever happened to simple manners, anyway?

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
16. He kind of laughed it off and said "Sorry!" and continued texting
Wed Oct 31, 2012, 08:27 PM
Oct 2012

Not "are you OK?" or " Gee, I'm a dummy". Just utterly oblivious.

Maybe I should have thrown myself on the sidewalk and screamed in pain.

Hey, accidents happen - but the high degree of sheer rudeness and self-absorption is daunting these days.

Mr. pig and I just got back from Trader Joe's, where a doofus sat in her car waiting for a parking space near the door and backed up traffic into the street! People behind her were honking and yelling. She didn't have a handicapped placard (although there were handicapped spots available), and there were plenty of spots a few lanes away.

I hate to be petty (well, not really) but once this dingbat finally moved (after maybe 5 minutes - Mr. pig and I kept watching to see how long she would hold out) we talked to a man in the car behind her, who was boxed in. Turned out he was a Vietnam vet with two Purple Hearts and was deaf in one ear. Mr. pig's also a Viet vet with hearing loss. I'm blind in one eye. We vented in a friendly fashion about clueless dopes who don't have the slightest clue about what's it's really like to be inconvenienced.

OK - rant over. I feel better. Thanks!

driver8

(12,710 posts)
17. I am amazed at the rudeness of some people these days.
Wed Oct 31, 2012, 11:28 PM
Oct 2012

It drives me crazy to see people texting and not paying attention to the world around them.

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
18. What really gets me is that these dummies feel entitled to text while operating a 2000-lb
Wed Oct 31, 2012, 11:54 PM
Oct 2012

piece of machinery when they can't navigate on their own damned feet.

If my cell buzzes or hums or plays The Star Spangled Banner when I'm driving, I wait until I'm parked to see who called and respond if necessary. It can't be important enough to endanger other people's lives.

I'm proud of my ability to multitask, but not when I'm driving.

MiddleFingerMom

(25,163 posts)
5. That kind of behavior is rude at the best of times.
Tue Oct 30, 2012, 08:45 PM
Oct 2012

.
.
.
It is tenfold so if you behave that way when you're speaking to someone who's working.
.
.
.
No reason for you to feel bad. It's a shame that those tears were probably "poor, poor,
pitiful me" rather than from embarassment over having been so rude.
.
.
.
I doubt it changed her nasty habit at all, but sometimes it's up to each of us ourselves
to draw the line over which the behavior of someone else is unacceptable and won't be
tolerated.
.
.
.
You did the right thing.
.
.
.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,266 posts)
25. I'd hate to think of what's happening when MFM is being examined ...
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 04:39 PM
Nov 2012

... but the doctor is probably wishing he'd just text or something.

MFM can be, occasionally, strange.



(kidding, wishing MFM speedy recoveries from what ails him)

Redlo Nosrep

(111 posts)
8. I Think You Showed Remarkable Restraint
Tue Oct 30, 2012, 10:59 PM
Oct 2012

I've reached the age where my response in your situation probably would have been to grab the phone out of her hand, drop it to the floor and put my foot on it, and then say, "Now, have you ever had any STDs?"

Okay, fantasizing...

<Rant On> Texting is the bane of good manners, common sense, and courtesy. <Rant Off>

I don't text at all, just not my thing.

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
9. I can relate.
Tue Oct 30, 2012, 11:07 PM
Oct 2012

Believe it or not I had a Doctor texting and enjoying a whatever the conversation was about. Here I was in the emergence room with, come to find out, a rupturing gallbladder! I believe when it comes to ones health, both parties should stay off the phone.

MrsBrady

(4,187 posts)
11. my doctor has his cell phone on...
Wed Oct 31, 2012, 12:01 AM
Oct 2012

and it will ding a little here and there....
but the only time I've ever seen him answer the phone was the time his car was broken into the night before
and his daughter was calling him on some related issue.

But this guy also gives out his cell phone number to some patience and I also have his personal email address.
I've only called him once other than the first time I called him...I don't want to abuse it.
He doesn't mind emails with follow ups about how we are doing of if there is a mix up at the pharmacy or something...
good guy, he is.

bif

(22,521 posts)
12. My doctor told me I needed to stop masterbating
Wed Oct 31, 2012, 04:52 PM
Oct 2012

I said, "Why?"
He said, "Because I'm trying to examine you."

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
19. Having spent 40 years handling clients/customers, I like to think I have a high tolerance,
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 12:12 AM
Nov 2012

but I'm taking early retirement. Tomorrow. (Seriously - first day of eligibility.)

I just don't want to deal with jerks anymore. I don't need expensive clothes or fancy handbags. My friends aren't impressed with that crap anyway. As long as I can keep a roof over my head and feed the cats, I'm fine.

I loved helping those who needed it and were appreciative, but an increasing amount of my time was spent being confronted with jerks determined to pester me into getting something they had no right to be entitled to - and at the expense of others who simply wanted fair and compassionate service.

Sad, isn't it? Maybe we can find our own planet somewhere and populate it by invitation only (nasty, argumentative, condescending, insulting creeps need not apply).

Tsiyu

(18,186 posts)
20. The great thing about Today is
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 01:40 PM
Nov 2012

expensive clothes and fancy handbags don't matter.

Last time I went to the city, everyone was looking down at their phones. So who cares what you're wearing or how much your purse cost? Who will even notice with their face planted in their iPhone?

Nobody's paying attention to anyone in their immediate vicinity anymore.

As for leaving the working madness, kudos to you.

Sleep late, watch a lot of good movies ( Rec: Saw Ramen Girl after Trick or Treating last night and it was a really fun movie ) and have lots of fantasies about what you will do with all your free time.








spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
22. Tsiyu, I'm going to spend time with friends like you on DU.
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 02:49 PM
Nov 2012

And my animals and spouse (are they mutally exclusive?).

Life's short. Enjoy it with friends and loved ones. (And aren't the tiny ones adorable in their little costumes on Halloween?)

We love movies and will check out Ramen Girl.

Peace,

spiderpig

Tsiyu

(18,186 posts)
26. Sounds like an awesome plan' spiderpig
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 05:48 PM
Nov 2012

And, yes, the babies were so cute last night running around.

It was fun taking the little one visiting last night. We mostly went to older rural people's houses who never get trick-or-treaters but who love to see the kids dressed up. Everyone got a kick out of him and he caught on to that trick-or-treat, "big people are passing out candy" situation right away!

Peace out, Sis.

spiderpig

(10,419 posts)
23. Avoid Kolob, libodem
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 02:51 PM
Nov 2012

Otherwise, if you find a place with nice ocean views and great cable, let me know.

Peace,

spiderpig

The empressof all

(29,098 posts)
24. I worked in Social Service management for over twenty years
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 03:39 PM
Nov 2012

I have never regretted retiring early. I began the arrangements shortly after I witnessed one of my staff members get spit upon. For the most part my career gave me a great sense of personal satisfaction but after a while the jerks just got to me. Interestingly enough the Jerkiest were those who were co-workers or in positions of power who did little to improve things. Drove me crazy and I didn't want to live in anger anymore.

sarcasmo

(23,968 posts)
27. You handled that quite well. I told an old guy at the car wash who was arguing with the poor cashier
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 07:14 PM
Nov 2012

to stop complaining and pay his damn bill. The guy was arguing about the car was charging sales tax. People have different levels of crazy and with some people you have to be blunt.

UTUSN

(70,434 posts)
28. A practitioner (I don't know what degree) had to threaten to call security
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 07:23 PM
Nov 2012

on a "low information" father (in his late 20s) who might have been a chemical abuser but who definitely was being over-reacting and disruptive by yellng, "If you make my kid scream, I'm going to (threat-threat) your ass!1"

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