Pitfalls of patient satisfaction reimbursment

In the future, healthcare provider (physician/np/pa) pay is going to be very closely linked with patient satisfaction. The happier the patients, the fewer lawsuits. The happier the patients, the higher the insurance reimbursement.

But, when pts are told to ask for this drug or that test by ads or Dr's on TV, they tend to be sicker longer, spend more time in clinics, money on meds, days in hospitals, AND DIE SOONER!

There's a reason Dr's go to school for 8 years, Nurse practioners/Physician Assistants-6 years. Add executives didn't go to med school. And Dr Oz is wrong 70% of the time. Plus, most of the tests he tells folks to get either aren't available or your insurance won't pay for.

We live in this consumer driven society.  While "The customer is always right" works in industry whose prime motive is to separate said customer from their cash, this is almost never the case in healthcare. The goal of healthcare is a means to an end. Healthy, happy patient while utilizing as little testing, medications and sick time as possible. All the while being pressured to do that "one more test just to make sure" if it will save the patient the pain and recovery of an invasive proceedure or spare the insurance company from a costly interveation. Being the one who will be held respondsible if the outcome is less than favorable is not a desirable position. Everyone is telling the provider what to do, yet the provider is the ONLY one who is accountable in the end.

So, be carefull what you are asking your Dr for. Pay attention to the look on their face. Make sure they aren't giving it to you to get you out of their office and avoid legal action.

It is said that doctors dont spend much time listening to their patients. In my 35 years of working with patients, it's never amazes me how many patiets never listen to their providers, never answer their questions directly and clearly and leave disatisified if they couldn't "have it your way".