Takeaway
Making a moment for foot care creates an opportunity to bond with my patient and strengthen our relationship.
Connecting with Patients | July 9, 2018 | <1 min read
By William Greenough, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
A reflection on Dr. David Wu’s “A Piece of My Mind, Beyond the Numbers”:
Many of my older patients cannot reach their toes to cut their nails.
The simple act of sitting with someone and taking care of what are often dangerously long nails encourages an entirely non-medical, relaxed conversation about what the person finds interesting.
Thus while preventing toes from being snagged due to long nails, bonding occurs, and often, insight into bits of history that weren’t revealed in the more formal medical setting.