Dr's app't question

[Susie]

When the calendar turned to August I remembered that I have my annual app't at the end of this month, and I started kind of dreading it, more than usual.  I was trying to figure out why I was so annoyed about having it... it's not like I'm worried about bad news of some kind.

It dawned on me that what I hate is that my doctor, who I otherwise generally like, does not look at me when she's talking to me.  During the interrogation part of the appointment, it's her sitting across the exam room with a laptop, asking often personal questions, never looking at me, and typing down all my answers verbatim.  I get that it's efficient for her, but I kind of feel like "everything I say can and will be used against me..."  It makes me feel oddly judged.  I hate that feeling.

Is that typical these days?  I only see a PCP (not a gyn also) so I don't see many other docs to compare to.

[Stingyshark]

I only see my PCP for a yearly physical, and I can't remember if she brings in a computer w/ her. December was the last time I saw her, but I think she was fairly attentive.

My old gyn was not all that personable, but that's fine, she's all up in my lady bits. I ust need her to get in and get out.

My OB is quick, but attentive.

The Dr. I work for is attentive to his patients. He takes nothing in the room with him, except radiology reports/old records.. but no computer. He stands by the patient and speaks directly to them. I think it just depends on the practice.

[ckinla]

My gyno does that - and she's slightly condescending. Actually she was fine when I first started going to her, but over the past 6 years she's gotten pretty bad and I'm definitely getting a new doctor now.

[sassystace]

Mine enters everything into their computer record system but she looks at me when I talk. So I'd say that there is some middle ground. Maybe she's bad at typing or you say a lot and she's trying to keep up? Experiment with her at the next appointment and see if when you take long pauses if she looks up or not? Maybe she's just not personable?

[trigal]

Many doctors seem to do that now with the laptops. I just went to see my PCP last week and he didn't even touch the computer. I love him!

[Susie]

Aug 8, 2013 11:39:08 GMT -5 sassystace said:

Mine enters everything into their computer record system but she looks at me when I talk. So I'd say that there is some middle ground. Maybe she's bad at typing or you say a lot and she's trying to keep up? Experiment with her at the next appointment and see if when you take long pauses if she looks up or not? Maybe she's just not personable?

She types freaking paragraphs it seems, entire narratives.  Not just a quick answer to "when was your LMP?" sort of thing.  It's like having a court stenographer present.  It makes me want to limit myself to one-word answers, which of course is not particularly productive or helpful.

For this appointment I'm just going to suck it up, but I'm debating whether I want to switch PCPs, or just start seeing a gyn in addition to her.

[Stingyshark]

Aug 8, 2013 11:53:19 GMT -5 Susie said:

Aug 8, 2013 11:39:08 GMT -5 sassystace said:

Mine enters everything into their computer record system but she looks at me when I talk. So I'd say that there is some middle ground. Maybe she's bad at typing or you say a lot and she's trying to keep up? Experiment with her at the next appointment and see if when you take long pauses if she looks up or not? Maybe she's just not personable?

She types freaking paragraphs it seems, entire narratives.  Not just a quick answer to "when was your LMP?" sort of thing.  It's like having a court stenographer present.  It makes me want to limit myself to one-word answers, which of course is not particularly productive or helpful.

For this appointment I'm just going to suck it up, but I'm debating whether I want to switch PCPs, or just start seeing a gyn in addition to her.

If you hate her change Doctors, but with electronic medical records being forced on Physicians, i think this is going to become more common than not. Physicians will start getting penalized in 2015 if they are not converted to an electronic medical record system. Also, the documentation requirements are changing; so this might contribute to why she is documenting so much for your yearly exam.  Also, the more she documents, the higher she can code, unless she is just billing for a physical, then it doesn't matter since those codes are based on age.

Just some thoughts.. 

[Deleted]

My PCP does type into a laptop for my wellness check but I love her because she carries on a conversation with you and types pertinent stuff along the way.

My GYN never brings in a laptop. If she does any laptop stuff with me, it's in her office. The nurse usually gets everything though.

[Susie]

Aug 8, 2013 11:58:18 GMT -5 Stingyshark said:

Aug 8, 2013 11:53:19 GMT -5 Susie said:

She types freaking paragraphs it seems, entire narratives.  Not just a quick answer to "when was your LMP?" sort of thing.  It's like having a court stenographer present.  It makes me want to limit myself to one-word answers, which of course is not particularly productive or helpful.

For this appointment I'm just going to suck it up, but I'm debating whether I want to switch PCPs, or just start seeing a gyn in addition to her.

If you hate her change Doctors, but with electronic medical records being forced on Physicians, i think this is going to become more common than not. Physicians will start getting penalized in 2015 if they are not converted to an electronic medical record system. Also, the documentation requirements are changing; so this might contribute to why she is documenting so much for your yearly exam.  Also, the more she documents, the higher she can code, unless she is just billing for a physical, then it doesn't matter since those codes are based on age.

Just some thoughts.. 

I didn't say that I hate her, just that this particular behavior/habit makes me feel uncomfortable, in much the same way that I feel uncomfortable on video camera.  It's uncomfortable to talk about sensitive subjects while watching someone type extensively about you, and you never see it.

The other half of the problem, that I'm reticent to talk about (here, there, and everywhere) is that I once made the mistake of admitting to her that I had once been the victim of sexual assault.  It was >10 years ago, and not something I dwell on, or want to revisit.  But she makes a big deal about it every time, asks why I haven't gone to therapy (as if the answer might change between year 11 and year 12 from the incident?), makes comments that feel judgmental about my decision not to, etc., all the while not even looking at me, and typing down every word I say.  The whole affair makes annual exams all the more difficult for me when what I'd really like to do is pretend it never happened and get out of there ASAP. 

I get that it's not her area of specialty, and I don't think she's a bad person/doctor.  I just need to not have to deal with the combination of that topic, that lack of empathy, and that perception of being judged for it all. 

When I have seen her for injuries/illnesses the typing thing has not been a big issue, just the annuals.  That is why I am considering remaining a patient, but seeing a separate gyn.

[Stingyshark]

Susie I misread what you wrote in your original post  "It dawned on me that what I hate is that my doctor, who I otherwise generally like, does not look at me when she's talking to me."

Sorry about that. 


I think your history is important, as history - not as something that should be brought up at every yearly exam with her. It is important to have a Dr. you feel comfortable with. 

You could try out a gyn, and see how it goes; Do you require a referral? You wouldn't even have to tell your PCP you went elsewhere. 

[Susie]

Aug 8, 2013 12:53:16 GMT -5 Stingyshark said:

You could try out a gyn, and see how it goes; Do you require a referral? You wouldn't even have to tell your PCP you went elsewhere. 

No, I don't need referrals for well woman exams with a gyn.  I started just having my PCP do everything when I decided I didn't like my old gyn a few years back, but I never looked for a gyn I liked better.  Since we are talking about TTC sometime in 2014, I figure maybe I'll get through this appointment this month and start polling friends on who they go to and like.  Next year would be an easy time to transition.  I was just trying to figure out whether all doctors were likely to kind of put me in the same position over and over.

[libbygrl109]

That sounds exactly like my PCP. She's really great otherwise, and when she's examining me, she does make more eye contact, so I guess I just let it slide.

[ebeth]

my doctor doesn't do this. she brings in my chart and takes notes while we are chatting or will refer back for some sort of family history. it also doesn't feel like an interrogation. more like a conversation. I don't walk out wanting to be her BFF or anything though. we sort of had an uncomfortable (for me, she didn't do anythign objectively wrong)conversation about me TTC later in the year the last time I was there, but she generally doesn't make me uncomfortable, KWIM?

[gt7301b]

Lol, I hate when my gyn talks to me while she's doing my exam, I guess we aren't making eye contact either