Had a bad experience with your doc?

[jensequitur]

Evidently some schools are trying harder to train their doctors in people skills.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/health/policy/11docs.html

[hbananas]

I have a friend with a part-time job being an actress at a medical school.  She does various scenarios where she is the patient, has x, y, z symptoms.  The script is so detailed she is from a particular city, moved here in 19XX, her mother had this disease, her father died at age XX from that disease.  The students know she is acting, but they get all wrapped up in the story and say things like "Oh, I used to live in that town, or I have a cousin with that last name."

After the encounter she fills out a questionnaire about how they did.  Her favorites are the nurse practitioners who have YEARS of patient care experience, but they get nervous because they know they're being tested.  She feels really sorry for them sometimes.  She hasn't experienced many students with a God complex.  That must come later.

[doublevision1]

ditto, great article.  Reminded me of a thread from 3 years ago of a sort of similar nature:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Does-your-neuro-have-good-manners/show/513534

[Lulu54]

great article, Jen.  I had to share it with some other folks.  thanks for posting this link.