Rethinking "Difficult" Patients with Emergency Physician and Author, Dr. Joan Naidorf

In this episode of the Desperate for a Diagnosis podcast, I have a heart-to-heart discussion with Dr. Joan Naidorf, an emergency physician, author, and speaker based in Alexandria, Virginia. We delve into the complex and oftenmisunderstood dynamics between patients and physicians, especially when it comes to diagnosing difficult cases. Dr. Naidorf shares her extensiveexperience, offering a unique perspective on how patient interactions can impact both sides of the healthcare system. Topics include medical gaslighting, and how healthcare professionals can improve their approach to how they view patients as well as mitigate biases. Dr. Naidorf talks about her book, “Changing How We Think About Difficult Patients,” and her motivation behind writing it.

 

Episode Highlights:

- Meeting Dr. Naidorf: An introduction to Dr. Joan Naidorf,her background, and what makes her a unique and insightful guest. [02:30]

- Dr. Naidorf's Book: Discussion about Dr. Naidorf’s book,“Changing How We Think About Difficult Patients,” and her motivation behindwriting it. [10:00]

- Defining Difficult Patients: Dr. Naidorf explains whathealthcare professionals mean by 'difficult patients' and the internal biases that might come into play. [15:45]

- Patient Profiling and Bias: A deep dive into how patientprofiling can affect diagnosis and treatment, and the importance of empathy in healthcare. [25:00]

- Communication Breakdown: The significance of effective communication between doctors and patients, and how misunderstandings can lead to feelings of being 'gaslit.' [30:15]

- Medical Gaslighting: A look at the term 'medicalgaslighting,' its implications, and Dr. Naidorf’s take on the subject. [35:40]

- Emergency Room Challenges: Insight into the specificchallenges faced by emergency room physicians and the triage process. [45:00]

- Women's Health and Bias: Discussion on the differences in diagnosing heart attacks in men vs. women and the biases that come into play.[50:00]

- Patient Expectations: How patients can manage theirexpectations and better communicate their needs to healthcare providers.[57:45]

- Physician's Perspective: Understanding what keepsphysicians up at night and the pressures they face. [1:05:20]

- Key Takeaways: Dr. Naidorf's advice for patients on how to navigate the healthcare system and improve doctor-patient relationships.[1:15:00]

 

Final Thoughts:

In this episode, we’ve uncovered the often hidden side ofhealthcare, discussing the intricacies of patient-physician interactions. Dr. Naidorf’s wisdom offers valuable insights for both medical professionals and patients, highlighting the importance of empathy, effective communication, and persistence in seeking medical answers.

 

Connect with Dr. Joan Naidorf:

Website: drjoannaidorf.com

Book: “Changing How We Think About Difficult Patients”available on Amazon and other major retailers.

 

Connect with Laura

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.desperateforadiagnosis.com

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