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Of course – I think a lot of the rhetoric is going to change when it gets to the level of a person’s health. We had the same conversations when we talked about putting a computer in the room – would the doctor get absorbed with the technology? And then we saw videos of physicians using paper charts – videos showing them flipping through the pages, not once looking up at the patient. It didn’t say to us, “let’s move forward with computers,” it said, “let’s focus on communication and what our patients want, not what we think they want.” It’s our mission, or passion, and it transcends any tool or technology. I hope when it comes to this specific device with patients that you’ll be in the room talking about how it feels for you, because if you feel it, it’s real.

BTW this is one of the major themes of our work at the Center for Total Health in Washington, DC – if you are in the neighborhood, come in for a tour. What we say is that our members (that’s what we call our patients) decide what health is for them, not their doctors. Luckily, I can say that, because I am one, and I know how much better care becomes when we approach it that way,

Ted

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This is a good dialogue. I think I/we should listen to what the patient thinks is good communication for them – it’s their health and health care, not the physician’s.

You know I wish someone would have told me earlier in my career that important lesson – any patient that allows a student in is giving them a gift in the hope that they’ll perform well for a future patient. If we in the profession teach that, when a patient says, “I’d prefer a private conversation,” it will not be seen as abnormal – just a need to tend to their health in the best way at that moment. And it’s an honor to respect that request.

When I shadow other physicians I advise “If at least one patient declines having another doctor in the room, that means you are asking for permission correctly.”

I think this a good post and marker for others to reference when they think about what the tool does and what it may not do. We need to discover that in partnership, yes?

Thanks again for listening,

Ted

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And no, doctors are not patients too.

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… here’s my comment re your comment on Ted’s blog post:

Google Glass and Patient-Centered Care? We Patients Need Google Glass!

The following is from my column Google Glass and the Future of Healthcare …

“What will patients think when they see their physician wearing Glass? In my opinion, it will become just another tool they associate with healthcare workers (less obtrusive than the head mirror that used to be a symbol of the medical profession). The bigger question should be, what will physicians and others think when they see a patient wearing Glass?

“Glass won’t disrupt and transform healthcare unless patients, not just providers, begin to use it (I told you I was going out on a limb! I know lots who’d disagree!). I look forward (well, sort of) to Glass telling me how many calories are in that second slice of cheesecake, that 65 percent of my followers forgo it – in real-time, while I’m reaching for it.

“When a busy specialist lists alternatives and contraindications heading out the exam room door, I want to review the video, including automatically inserted links. God forbid, someday, when I am (hopefully temporarily) too weak to lift a mouse or smartphone, let alone a tablet, I want to stay in touch with relatives, friends, and colleagues.

“Soon, if it hasn’t already happened, someone will emerge from surgery and his or her first words will be, “Where’s my Glass? Could you put it on me? OK Glass…” And, if someone doesn’t happen to own Glass, give them one when admitted, to help navigate from place to place, to access educational material, and to, generally, pass the time in a more interactive way than staring at the hospital room TV.

“So, yes, I predict Google Glass will have a big impact, used by clinicians, on healthcare. But it’ll have an even bigger impact on healthcare if it is wildly successful outside healthcare.

“Let’s just say I’d like patients and physicians to meet eye-to-eye, so to speak.

Signed

Doctors Are Patients Too

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Gmail and Google apps are considered not safe for privacy issues (in the U.S., not HIPAA compliant). Google has been subject to repeated security breaches, and does change its privacy policy regularly without informing users.

I do not want any of my medical information stored on Google’s cloud. Sadly, I was recently reading about this issue on a medical blog. In the comment section. many doctors were annoyed that patients were resisting, saying they didn’t want to find their exam on YouTube, or a consult with a colleague without permission. Some of the doctors were downright angry. I suppose they want to try out the new tech toy.

I realize it is difficult sometimes to say, “Yes, I do mind.” Perhaps all of us need practice before the issue comes up. “Doctor, please put that device away.” and “Google has too many security breaches.”

That should be enough, although perhaps my grandmother’s favorite comment, “The subject is closed” may be necessary.

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If asked would I mind if a doctor wore a pair of those during an appointment, I would say yes I would mind, and probably quote Chomsky.

However, if I or any other patient wants to record the appointment, that’s another story. Has anyone asked doctors how they feel about patients recording them? That would be a good way to “take over the appointment”. I can’t believe someone would think a simple request is taking over!

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