Thread by @medicalaxioms

Let’s agree that as a doctor you can dream up some solutions to your patients’ problems that they can’t think of. 1/

It’s not a radical concept. You went to school and trained for years. You aren’t just here to listen to your patient’s differential diagnosis and treatment plan. 2/

Most sick people come to see you because they want you to actually do something to help them.

Please, dear lord, do not make this a topic of controversy. 3/

Now, you would like transmit this knowledge you have to your patient. You are going to flap your lips at them, making words, and take your knowledge, experience and wisdom and try to move it from your brain to their brain.

I’m still praying I have lost anyone yet. 4/

You get to pick your style. Choose from among personae. Create your character. Channel certain types or people. Imitate others who have taught, guided, helped, advised, lead, supported and corrected you in your life. 5/

Now we can discuss & debate. What works for you?
- Angry librarian?
- Disappointed parent?
- Apathetic rubber stamper? (Think DMV employee)
- Wrinkled brow worrier?
- Straight-faced ticket-writing dispassionate cop?
- Annoying nosey neighbor?
- Gracious waiter?
- Firefighter? 6/

The character you write for yourself as a doctor is very important. It will decide:
A) How successful you are and
B) How much damage you suffer in your role. You know, burnout and all that. Addiction, depression, suicide death. They are hot topics these days. 7/

Most meds students & residents don’t think too much about this. They “play” themselves in the hospital.

🙄

Nobody tells us to do any different. We figure certainly people would pay good money to meet our home grown personality with all its foibles, biases, & insecurities. 8/

Turns out most of us have a personality poorly suited for this professional role. We are petty, vindictive, selfish, biased. We are thin-skinned and take things personally. We are fickle & judgmental and find things wrong with most people.

That’s fine for your home life. 9/

Most people don’t want to pay for that personality. Even if they do get better from what ails them.

When you pay to see a doctor, you want to see a doctor. In character. Nobody goes to the theater to hear the actor talk about her personal problems... 10/

You go to the theater to see different actors play the same role that is written in the play. Predictable lines. If you’ve stuck with this thread until now, here’s the payoff. You get to have the last word! 11/

What is your character in this play?
Who do you imitate or channel?

You can be like people in other jobs and roles: lawyer, banker, priest, mechanic, parent, cop, IRS employee, spy, student, prisoner, homeless monk, village idiot, superhero.

What is your character?

12/done