NYT - Dr gets VIP Treatment

[JDAZ11]

Did anyone else read this: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/0...ype=Blogs&_r=0 ?

I don't know if I agree, well with respect to me (DH hasn't been to a doctor in at least 15 years). I hope what I'm getting isn't special treatment, I'd hate to see what the alternative is!

It could also be that here, almost everyone is a Dr or the family member of one, so I don't know that it makes anyone a "VIP."

Interestingly though, with my dad's back surgery, I do think he gets special treatment because of DH. Lots of personal phone calls from the Dr, they moved up his surgery as soon as they had a cancelation etc. I'd love to get a Dr to spend more than 2 minutes with me here! (Although I suppose I try to be good about not name dropping, but maybe that is wrong approach).

Anyway, just wondering - do you feel that you get any special treatment?

[PrincessFiona]

Yes. It's a part of living in a small medical community. I don't think it's right, but it is how it is. My experience is that medical peeps take care of each other. If I need an appointment with IM for something non-emergent, I get in with 24-48 hours. The doctor always spends a ridiculous amount of time with me. I'm constantly telling him to move on to his next patient. If the kids need anything, they get fast-tracked in the ER and the pedi is also very talkative/takes his time. When I had cancer, I had same day access to procedures, treatments and test results.

The flipside of this is that I have no privacy (nor do my children) despite HIPAA. After all of these years, I've just come to accept that news travels fast about what is going on in our house. I sometimes feel I'm living in a glass house. Also, we are subject to the overtesting that comes with being a doctor's family. Out of fear of missing something, I've been subjected to unnecessary CT and MRI scans that the average person wouldn't have...just in case.

I think these kinds of things happen in any profession. I notice that my friends who are teachers all sort of take care of each others kids during the day. They check on them, give them treats, help them get into academic extensions ... etc.

Kris

[Ladybug]

It definitely happens in all professions. School Faculty and staff kids get the extra time and laughs with teachers after school and form deeper attachments. Working within the school system is like having eyes on your children at all times even if you're not with them. You get emails about funny things they just said and did, you gets heads up on less funny behaviors and friendship dynamics. Your colleagues enjoy watching them grow up within the community. Next year will be the first time my kids operate outside of the "faculty kids" crowd. Hopefully their charming personalities shine through.

DH gets "VIP" patients and even calls them such. Calls from deans, chairman, community leaders, friends, our housecleaner's mom, etc. No two month wait. He doesn't ever try less, but worries more in these cases if that makes sense. I think we all perform on a continuum each day...at parents, as professionals, as humans. It's natural to step up your game when you're more emotionally or professionally vested.

I think the author was more interested in seeing if the experience would be different as a non-health professional for writing purposes than for ethics. His professed egalitarian pride is a little annoying to me. It's hidden pride. I don't think VIP treatment is limited to just docs. I've heard stories of nurses, PAs and beloved cafeteria and cleaning personnel. I remember a particular janitor that was visited by everyone in the hospital from top to bottom.

[OrionGrad]

I don't know if it's VIP necessarily, but I'm definitely treated differently by doctors when DH comes with me to appointments. Particularly with my high BP in pregnancy, doctors have been much more open to letting me manage it at home (versus going straight to medication) because of DH's background. They've outright said it during each of my specialist appointments. I'm certainly grateful, even though it is funny seeing how my care is different when I come to an appt alone vs with DH.

[SuzySunshine]

We've been on the receiving end several times and I'd never been so grateful! DH had to have a small procedure here last year, he was standing in the hall looking at the OR board for the next day when one of his friends who is an anesthesiologist walked up and asked if he was looking at his patients, he said no, I am the patient. The doc then moved anesthesiologists around so that he was assured to get one of the best, fair? Maybe not but I am of the opinion that our husbands (and all docs) make TONS of sacrifices and they should get some extra/VIP treatment for that. He never had to have follow-up appointments he just have follow-up chats with the doc as they were passing in the hall. The doc did tell him not to pay his bill but we did anyway.

When R had his seizures in Portland, DH was in the ER briefing the ER doc when our ambulance pulled up. There was no waiting, we were taken to a private room where we were constantly checked on by nurses, docs, the attending never left the area until they figured out what was up. Would we have gotten that treatment otherwise? I have no idea b/c I have no other ER experience but I doubt it. When he had his follow up EEG/MRI a month after, the neuro-radiologist called DH with the results before R was even back in recovery. His mentor and several other neurologists that he knew looked at the images as well to make sure no one was missing anything.

When A had her adenoids out in Portland, her case was done by the chair of the department. He specifically asked us if we minded having residents and then assured us it was the chief resident, maybe he asks everyone that but we signed a form saying we knew we were at a teaching hospital so I kind of doubted it.

I think with all of the crap that goes into becoming a doctor and all of the crap they put up with afterward its normal to get some VIP treatment. And I don't think its just docs, my sister is an NP, when she was pregnant she got VIP treatment, free tests, etc.

[PrincessFiona]

Alex broke his great toe Friday night. It was an open fracture. We needed to follow up with orthopedics, so Thomas called over this morning. Generally, the wait time is a week if not more. Alex has an appointment in 3 hours.

It doesn't seem fair.

My uncle has a large aortic aneurism and has medicare in Florida. He is having trouble finding a cardiologist to see him. That wouldn't be happening if he had a foot in the door. There are disparities in care for sure.

Kris

[spaz]

Yes, we definitely get VIP treatment. When I had to have emergency surgery, they put me on my husband's specialties floor and the nurses were VERY sweet and protective. They all love my hubby so much. The pain meds made me SO sick.. ( I would have told them no if they had asked. It happened when having babies as well. I can only take advil and it seems to take most of the pain away.) The nurse was helping me as I was wretching in the bathroom, naked... Yep they know all about me.. Part of it is small town stuff. Husband's grandmother did as well.. I mean when the other docs know your doc really well, what do you expect? We don't go in asking for special treatment, but they are all our friends.

[Thirteen]

Maybe it shouldn't be that way, but it is, and I'm thankful.

From waived co-pays in residency, to professional courtesy in wait times and appointment scheduling, it makes my life easier.

I had a great ortho, the best gas doc did my epidural with DS, and on and on.

I have only played the doctor wife card once, and that was when DS spiked a 105 and we went to the pediatric ER - the attending on-call oversaw the whole thing and came into our room multiple times to talk with me.


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[SoonerTexan]

Not really but he's only been a doctor for a month and med student doesn't go far. When he went to the ER after j was born he didn't say anything, though he did describe the pain in a way a non medical professional wouldn't.


Our pediatricians know he was/is a med student/resident and kept up with is during the match process. They also give us backup antibiotics and more leeway because they know we won't abuse it (they've said so). They have students from DHs school rotate through and we always get one, but I'm okay with that.

[SuzySunshine]

I don't feel like we get special treatment at my kids ped's office, she knows DH is a doc but its not a big deal.

I will also say it can go the other way - as far as being uncomfortable. My internist is at DH's hospital and her and her nurse kept fawning over DH (he wasn't there) while I was there for my first appointment. It was pretty annoying when I'm trying to have an exam.

[JDAZ11]

So actually, after I wrote/thought that, I changed my mind. In this location no one has really cared all that much (but I think I am just bitter because of a bad experience - a dr that performed surgery on me proceeded to introduce himself to me - and be an unhelpful asshole- at an appointment 3 weeks later). Perhaps I am so used to getting "VIP" treatment that the whole experience was shocking.

BUT, before we moved here to the land of everyone here is doctor, I definitely got VIP treatment. MRI's of my hurt knee ordered while at a dinner party, my forehead fixed after an accident without going to the ER or paying. I also think it was a smaller medical community, so maybe people just cared more.


Anyway, I changed internists today, and he was WONDERFUL even before I mentioned how I found him (through the head of medicine in the hospital system that is a close friend). Not sure it made a huge difference since he was already wonderful, but I suppose mentioning the DH/other connection thing doesn't hurt. I guess I'll just have to find some way to mention it constantly (which is awkward since I usually try everything in my power to avoid telling people what he does!).

[JDAZ11]

Lawyers are also pretty big on the personal favors and free help. And my college BF's dad was a judge - I don't even want go into the absurd special treatment he was given because of it. So yeah, it happens with everyone I guess.

[JDAZ11]

I will also say it can go the other way - as far as being uncomfortable. My internist is at DH's hospital and her and her nurse kept fawning over DH (he wasn't there) while I was there for my first appointment. It was pretty annoying when I'm trying to have an exam.

So yeah, that has happened to me too. Which is maybe why I stopped mentioning what he did, but now that I kind of have a feel for the alternative, I doubt I'll ever try to keep that super secret again.

[Deebs]

My DH gets way more professional courtesy from his fire service connections than he does for being a physician. Maybe it's bc everyone hates the ED?


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[SuzySunshine]

So yeah, that has happened to me too. Which is maybe why I stopped mentioning what he did, but now that I kind of have a feel for the alternative, I doubt I'll ever try to keep that super secret again.

I didn't even tell them except when they asked if I was his wife - DH and I wonder if there is something that ties our medical records together or something since he works there, our insurance is through them, I don't know but it was WEIRD!