Regardless of your relationship to the patient, your body language, tone of voice and eye contact all have to say, “Thank you for asking.” Then provide a simple answer, and turn the conversation to the patient’s needs, but don’t convey avoidance or annoyance. “It’s not a bad thing for a patient to feel that the physician is human,” Singer says. “To be completely distant will be off-putting.”
Another scenario that may arise between doctor and patient is the doctor treating a patient with a condition the doctor has personal experience with. “I think it’s up to the doctor on whether to mention this if it might have benefit for the patient,” Singer says. “But don’t complain. A patient’s visit is not supposed to be therapy for you.”
Dr. Chabra believes rheumatologists have a unique relationship with patients they treat as a result of their chronic conditions. “We see them often, walk through trials and tribulations with them, and get to know them sometimes as well as a primary care physician,” he says. “Patients realize we are human beings and have obligations outside of the clinic. In the community, we may be in similar circles such as having children on the same sports team, attending the same church or sharing a common hobby.”
If a rheumatologist has to reschedule a patient’s appointment, Dr. Chabra advises saying a simple “thank you” to the patient for changing their appointment during their visit. However, “sharing your personal medical history or medications may not be wise in this setting, nor is sharing personal problems in detail. Patients are here for us to help them, and we must keep their concerns first.”
When All Else Fails
If attempts to deal with a problem don’t work or your functionality at work is impaired, consider a leave of absence. “Take this time to process your feelings and deal with problems,” Masini says. Some situations [that] would induce this type of stress are divorce, death of a loved one, having a serious illness or having a loved one with a serious illness, or being in an accident. For some people, investing themselves in work is a way of healing. If you’re that type of person, don’t take away the opportunity to heal through work.
Although some situations are out of your control, prevention is an important key to emotional health, as is staving off serious problems. “Physicians need to develop and maintain a network of supportive relationships in their personal life; engage in ongoing stress management tools, such as regular exercise, Qigong, meditation, tai chi and/or creative hobbies (e.g., music, art); and be alert to or mindful of evolving negative emotions and conflicts (i.e., the concept of self-awareness and mindfulness),” Dr. Sansone says. “Emotional issues need to be dialogued as they develop, not bottled up until a crisis unfolds. And perhaps most importantly, the physician needs to confront his or her fear of counseling or medication and get help when it’s needed.”
