* * Anonymous Doc

Monday, April 18, 2011

I saw a patient of mine in a shopping mall yesterday.

And I quickly turned the other way.

I mean quickly.

I ducked behind a pole.

I watched, until she was far enough away that I knew she wouldn't see me, and then I left. The mall. Completely.

Which makes me a crazy person, right?

She's not even a terrible patient. I just couldn't imagine having to have a conversation with her outside the hospital. I couldn't imagine even having to say hello. I've been traumatized by the job! I can't even bear to think about having one second of a patient interaction when I don't have to. It's not like she was even necessarily going to recognize me out of my white coat. Or even if she did, like she'd want to say hello to her doctor? Probably not. But I couldn't take the chance.

I have become a crazy person.
Posted by Anon MD at 10:57 AM

10 comments:

  1. Dial DoctorsApril 18, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Lucky for us we don't interact with most patients. Because we are in telehealth we usually avoid people because they can be anywhere in the country until THAT day. I was in a bank waiting my turn when I heard a familiar name. It was a frequent flier who called in maybe 4 times a week with the same symptoms. I didn’t say hi because she wouldn’t know recognize me anyway but a small part of me wanted her to know me. We want what we can't have. Go figure

    ReplyDelete
  2. SuFu PhDApril 18, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    If they wave, smile back. If they come and try to talk, just say "Hi" and try to keep moving. If that doesn't work, once they are 2 sentences in grab your phone like it's on vibrate, look at it "shake your head" and answer it like you're on call. Cup your hand on the receiver and say, "Sorry I have to take this" and walk away like you're going to a code. Then you don't come off as an ass, you avoided a conversation and the patient will expound to their friends about how dedicated you are. Or the exact opposite... but whatever.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMDGApril 18, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    I saw a patient who'd recently received her first gyn exam in my presence on the street a few weeks later. She waved, I ran away.

    ReplyDelete
  4. OutriderApril 18, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    I frequently fail to recognize my clients, the owners of my patients. It's embarrassing, because if I could avoid speaking with them, I would (including my clients who are physicians, BTW). A friendly hello is about as good as it gets from me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    I've had moments where I've run into people I saw in the hospital, but generally, I was either wearing a facemask and thus they dont recognize me, or they don't seem to remember me (I guess I have one of those faces).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dr. AliceApril 18, 2011 at 8:16 PM

    I have run into patients at church, in the bank, at Staples, at Starbucks (it was the barista), in the grocery store. And once my waitress at a restaurant turned out to be one of my patients. It's crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. NatalieApril 19, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    If I saw a doctor I had fired, I would (and have) turned and walked the other way. If I saw a doctor I liked, I'd smile and say Hi and let them go their way. But then, I'm a nicer patient than most! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    If I run into one of my medical provider outside the office. I simply give the respectful New England head-nod and keep walking. The reality is patients are only a chart number. It's naive to believe the patient/provider relationship extends outside the office walls.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJune 18, 2012 at 10:33 AM

    Yes.

    Completely Crazy.

    -A

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2012 at 4:14 AM

    I was at the grocery store yesterday and TWO recent ER patients were in the produce section. I hid!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)