Think about the last time you went to the doctor’s office. How did it go? Were all of your questions answered? Did the doctor understand you? Was it awkward? Were you rushed?

Why has there always been this veil of misunderstanding between doctors and patients? Has it always been there? What damage has this caused to our health? Is there a way to overcome it?

My name is Dr. Chris Griffith. I am a practicing internal medicine primary care physician in Denver, Colorado. I know the answers to these questions because I have been on both sides of the veil. As a patient, I have felt misunderstood, powerless, alone, and rushed. I can only imagine how it feels for patients with no medical background. As a doctor, this disconnect with my patients has made me feel misunderstood, powerless, alone and rushed when treating patients, as well.

WHERE DOES THIS DISCONNECT COME FROM?

In my daily practice I find myself asking myself this question a lot. If only my patients and I were on the same page, then we could accomplish great things. Typically, we are not on the same page, or even in the same book. Every patient is different. Every office visit or healthcare encounter  is different. It is difficult to understand where someone is coming from in a 20 minute visit. During a visit, doctors are trying to learn your history, listen to your symptoms, determine a potential diagnosis, choose the appropriate testing, and the correct treatment. This treatment will, at best, help you but at worst could cause you harm. Determining how to incorporate your preferences can fall by the wayside in this already stressful situation. Making you feel heard, reassured and valued can become secondary.

We’ve all been patients, and I know it’s worse from the patients’ perspective. I’m sure there have been some bizarre questions asked after I have left my patients in my exam rooms:

“Why did he want to do “XYZ”?”

“He didn’t even ask me how I want to be treated”

“How can he ask me to improve my diet and when my kids and I are living in our car?”

Learning medicine from textbooks is easy. Applying that knowledge to individuals with their own backgrounds, experiences, points of view, personalities, struggles, fears, hopes, dreams is truly challenging. It takes a trusting relationship and mutual understanding.  

Can It Be Better?

So how do we bridge this gap? How do we lift the veil?

I have said many times before: If only my patients had a guide book on how to be the best patient. If only they knew what I was looking for and wanted to know.

The longer I practice the more I realize the statement should be:  If only I knew what the patient wanted to know.

WHY IS THIS GUIDE NEEDED?

When I first started going to the doctor, no one told me what was expected of me. No one told me what the doctors wanted to know from me or what I needed to have prepared. I just showed up and started answering questions.

I realize now that a guide book would have been immensely helpful. Because a Wise Patient knows what to look for and knows what will be asked. You know what options you will have and you will have an idea what the doctor is thinking before having it explained.

My goal is not to create another medical textbook. Instead, my goal is to create a guide to help you have more productive office visits and receive more cost-effective health care. It is my sincere hope that Wise Patients will have better medical outcomes.

I want this guide to enlighten patients and doctors so that our interactions together may become more fruitful. This project will help patients understand why we do the things we do. What if this project could tear apart the veil between us?

WHY ME?

I want to do this because I know the doctor-patient relationship can be better. My experience in medicine comes from being a patient, from being a doctor, and comes from being in a large medical family. I completed internal medicine residency at CU in 2016 and I have been practicing primary care here in Denver ever since. My father is a family practice doctor currently working in my hometown of Cape Girardeau, MO. He started a small practice with another partner in 1984 and has been there for his entire career. I married a brilliant rheumatologist who works at the University of Colorado and my brother is an ICU nurse in Nashville, TN.

We all have stories. These stories include patients who just had no idea what was going on or how the system works. They had no grasp of the gravity their situation. Some people come in to see me with bold demands, not fully understanding the impact of those demands.

WHAT WILL THIS BLOG LOOK LIKE?

I am going to post a series of articles and discussions that will create a guide to becoming a Wise Patient. My goal is that these articles will enlighten patients as to what they should expect from doctors, and what doctors will expect of them.

I hope to use my experience to shed light on this gap between us. Specialists will be invited to share their perspective. I will post reliable resources for you to review independently.

Most of all I want to hear from you, the readers and patients. I want to hear what you want to know. I want to hear your questions, and disagreements, your frustrations, and your reactions to your experience in the “medical system”. It is through open discussion that we can start to fix this disconnect that persists. If just one life is saved by this project, it will have been worth it.

If you’re ready to get the most out of healthcare, then start by reading my blog. Or, head straight over to the Patient Resources page to get my personal recommendations for the best health products and services.

Are you interested in contributing to the content of the blog? Email me at contact@thewisepatient.com