Blog Archives

7 Secrets to Loyal Patients for Life →

LoyalPatiets

Loyal patients are the lifeblood of a medical clinic. And devoted patients are worth their weight in gold. It’s a lot easier to care for an established patient that lots of one-timers who never return. Beyond ease of workflow, the economic benefits are fabulous. A loyal patient panel will stay with you (and pay you) through sickness and in health even if you don’t take their insurance—even if you choose to go cash only.

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Physician Suicide 101: Secrets, Lies & Solutions →

Last week I delivered this talk twice at the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Washington DC, and I also presented it to third-year medical students at The Commonwealth Medical College of Pennsylvania. It is fully transcribed here. Every medical student and physician needs this information. Please share widely.

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WHY an abusive marriage is BETTER than this doctor’s shitty job →

Abusive Marriage A psychiatrist in my physician retreat sends me this e-mail:

Pamela, get this—after saying that I’d need to make up for my ‘lost time’ on production since I’m quitting my job and taking off for our retreat, the Head Suit calls me today and begs me not to quit.

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The *Surprise* Birthday Party Physical :) →

I love my patients. And I love surprises. Most patients fear unexpected medical events, but medical surprises don’t always have to be bad news.

I’m a neighborhood family doc. My patients are friends. They celebrate my milestones and I celebrate theirs. A few like to surprise me for my birthday.

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Doctors not allowed to ask patients, “How are you?” →

Medical Insanity

Another indication that health care is sick—doctors are being told to stop asking patients open-ended questions like:

“How are you feeling?”

“What worries you?”

“What’s on your mind?”

Today a physician just e-mailed me:

“I am really,

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Drop doctorspeak & get real with patients →

If you’re a doctor, I bet you speak doctorly. You act doctorly. And dress doctorly. And spend your days in clinic with other doctorly doctors.

But life is what happens while you’re busy staring at computerized flow sheets, algorithms, and billing codes.

Real life happens outside of man-made medical institutions.

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How one TED talk is changing the world of medicine →

I’ve never been a small-talk doc. My therapist calls me “the Dr. Kevorkian of medical taboos.” I’m most comfortable discussing the uncomfortable—topics that scare most physicians. In my TED talk, I bust through three taboos: human sexuality, physician-patient intimacy, and doctor suicides.

Taboo #1: Sexuality. Americans are oversexualized and sexually repressed.

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When your health insurer pays for breakfast, here’s what happens . . . →

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Health insurance is complex. Eating out is easy—unless you were to involve your health insurance company.

If you hired a third party to pay your restaurant bill, you’d pay twice as much, wait 2 weeks for a table, and have 7 minutes to eat.

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Doctor’s Fantasy: leave psychiatry to sell Tupperware →

Tupperware

Dear Pamela:

I can’t tell if I’m burned out or just don’t like being a doctor. My own medical school experience was so abusive. I wonder how other students like me fare when they enter abusive residency programs. I supposedly work at a place that values patients above all else,

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I love old people, but I will not accept Medicare →

Medicare

I love caring for patients—young and old. And though I may not accept your insurance, I will always accept you. I’m still happy to care for Medicare patients even though I opted out of Medicare on Independence Day 2006. Why don’t I accept Medicare?

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I may not accept your insurance, but I will always accept you →

Accept Insurance:YOU

Just for the record: I am happy to see you—irrespective of your insurance.

I accept most insurance plans. And if I don’t accept your insurance, I have a very good reason.

I will not sign a contract with a health insurer that:

Abuses and bullies me and/or my patients.

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Why You Should Love Your Doctor →

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Doctors spend their 20s and 30s studying while most of their friends are at parties and enjoying their youth.

Doctors may amass up to 500K debt for the honor of one day caring for you and your family.

Doctors delay childbearing and starting their own families so they can care for your family.

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Why I Really Kiss My Patients →

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I started kissing patients in med school. And I haven’t stopped.

During my third-year pediatric rotation, I would stay up late at night in the hospital, holding sick and dying children. I’d lift them from their cribs, kiss them, and sing to them, rocking them back and forth until they fell asleep.

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The One Question You Must Ask Your Doctor →

#1 Question Ask Doctor

Your doctor has more control over your life than anyone—other than you.

Your doctor may be the first face you see as you’re born and the last one you see as you die. Doctors look deep inside you, in places nobody has been before. Doctors prescribe drugs that can kill you or save your life.

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Create Your Ideal Clinic ~ Dr. Wible Speaks at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine →

MP3 AUDIO HERE

TRANSCRIPTION OF DR. WIBLE’S PRESENTATION

 PART ONE (video):

INTRODUCTION: Dr. Pamela Wible is a family physician born into a family of physicians. Her parents warned her not to pursue medicine,

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