What’s That You Said?
April 25th, 2006 | by Ed |Communication: the exchange of information or messages between two people.
Sounds simple enough, right?
But I was recently reminded of how difficult it really is to accurately communicate even the simplest statements when I came across some actual examples of medical record data.
Doctors and medical workers are intelligent, educated and articulate, right? Well, you judge.
* Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
* She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
* The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1993.
* The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
* Discharge Status: Alive but without permission.
* Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
* The patient refused an autopsy.
* The patient has no past history of suicides.
* The patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
In communication, the shortest distance from point A (my head) to point B (your head) is often a zigzag liine!
2 Responses to “What’s That You Said?”
By Joy on May 6, 2006 | Reply
Many years ago a nursing attentdant I worked with helped complete the admission form of a new patient. The patient’s religion? - Prostitute! I still chortle over that one.
By Joy on May 6, 2006 | Reply
Many years ago a nursing attendant I worked with helped complete the admission form of a new patient. The patient’s religion? - Prostitute! I still chortle over that one.