In my work as a medical humanist, I’ve witnessed how healthcare professionals’ empathic communication skills can improve a patient’s understanding of their diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options. Now, to my surprise, a recent study shows “chatbot-generated responses outperformed physician- generated responses in both quality and empathy.” The authors conclude that chatbots can improve physician performance […]
A Medical Humanist's Notes
The Power of Questions
As I go through papers stacked on my office shelves, I heed Virginia Woolf’s words about paying attention to the “diamonds in the dustheap.” Just the other day I found a questionnaire used at a 2016 workshop that we organized to provide feedback on the original Difficult Conversations Workbook. Although the workbook was generally well-received […]
Is There a Right Time to Withhold Difficult Medical News?
There is no prescribed timing for when to share difficult medical news. This can be as true for doctors with their patients as it is for patients with loved ones. There can be many reasons for withholding medical information, including doctors avoiding uncomfortable emotionally laden conversations or patients feeling a need to protect loved ones. […]
Can Writing Help With PTSD?
I was not surprised to learn about a recent study at a VA Hospital that showed veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) benefitted from a writing program. Needless to say, there are many who served in the military who experienced psychological traumas that have lingered for years after their combat experiences. It turns out […]
What Does Cancer Screening Tell Us?
Cancer is an especially frightening disease. To “catch it early” we have come to rely on screening tests such as a mammogram, PSA, and colonoscopy. Whether a physician recommends a test or we learn about it through advertisements, we have come to believe that early detection will significantly increase life expectancy. Yet, a recent article […]
Can a Low-Tech Tool Improve Healthcare Delivery?
We are all grateful for high-tech innovations in medical science. In a recent blog I spoke about the benefits of artificial intelligence in helping doctors make accurate diagnoses and develop more effective treatment plans. Despite these advances in technology, a patient’s understanding of medical information can still be a challenge. In describing the clinician’s […]
Will Artificial Intelligence Replace My Doctor?
There is little doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to have a profound effect on healthcare delivery. This technology has the potential to improve medical diagnoses and treatment planning. AI can also generate documentation for medical records and save time, something that is at a premium in the medical world. The role of […]
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Recently, I was thinking about the Rolling Stones lyric “You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need” and found myself checking the dictionary for the definitions of “want” and “need.” I discovered that “want” is a desire for something that you could live […]
We’re All Confused
There are no rules for proper behavior, conversation or actions when there’s an advancement of a serious illness and no viable treatment options. Patients can find themselves confused when trying to communicate with family and friends about a dire prognosis and an uncertain future. This brings to mind what a friend with advanced breast cancer […]
No Recognizable Guideposts
In a 1988 Village Voice article “The Land of The Sick,” Paul Cowan spoke of his experience of illness and declared, “It is a world that has its own language, its own geography, its own authority figures and its own calendar dictated by the changes in one’s body or by results of medical tests–most of […]