Dennis J. Boyle, MD, is an academic rheumatologist at Denver Health and Hospital. He is also an assistant dean in education at the University of Colorado.
Studies suggest that physicians rate between 10 and 15% of patient visits “difficult.”1 This is important for a variety of reasons: Patient satisfaction is a frequently measured parameter, and poor interactions may lead to bad ratings. Personal satisfaction on the part of the provider is also an issue, and frustrating interviews can leave the physician…
Lack of efficacy, poor DAS scores may be misinterpreted as a drug failure
How to manage the risks when prescribing medications for patients in chronic pain
Bring clarity to your interactions with patients, staff, and colleagues.
The Institute of Medicine has reported that each year up to 98,000 deaths result from iatrogenic injury and error.1 Autopsy series have suggested a 15% error rate in the practice of medicine. These numbers are surprising and concerning and raise important questions about how we practice medicine. What kind of errors do we make as…
How to smooth tough patient encounters
Pitfalls to avoid and habits that protect you from malpractice suits