Media Room
Story Angles
As computers become a staple in exams rooms, patient communication and etiquette are essential to enhancing the quality and satisfaction of care. Physicians calling on a computer resource during a consultation may consider the following tips from Epocrates’ Senior Medical Editor and internist, Dr. Anne Meneghetti:
- Arrange monitors and devices to minimize physical and perceived barriers between you and patients
- Communicate the purpose for using electronics (“I’m checking your insurance coverage”)
- Invite patients to directly view displayed information that might give insight into their condition or care. Print out available patient education.
- Ask patients to “brown bag it” once a year, filling a bag with current prescription and OTC medications, herbs and supplements to identify any potential drug interactions
Contact pr@epocrates.com for more information.
Challenges Facing Primary Care Physicians
Primary care physicians are the doctors we see most often. Yet they face a variety of challenges every day. A recent Epocrates survey revealed that their greatest challenge currently facing their practice is reimbursement, followed by administrative burdens and high operational costs. More than half of respondents reported that they've considered early retirement due to stress, work/life balance, increased costs and liability concerns.
Find out what physicians in the family practice/internal medicine specialties have to say about topics such as running a practice, the healthcare landscape and career choice.Stress May Be Making You Ill
Feeling tired or not sleeping through the night? It might be stress and it could be making you sick according to nearly 500 doctors who participated in a survey by medical software developer Epocrates, Inc. Survey participants identified restless nights and fatigue as the two most common symptoms of stress.