David Feller-Kopman, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
I went in to see my patient and asked him how retirement was going. He said it was initially going great, he was spending time on his boat, fishing, reading, and really enjoying his time.
I asked, “So, what happened?”
He said, “My wife just retired and now she’s found all this stuff for me to do!”
Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
A patient once told me, “I’ve survived Vietnam and I’ve survived being an Orioles’ fan. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease won’t do me in.”
This comment always makes me smile and have faith in the power of my patients.
What do you think?
Do you want to add to the conversation? Please share!
Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
As an established primary care internist, I’ve seen many of my patients for several years. My favorite first question for them is, “What’s new in your life?”
Last week, a middle aged patient answered, “I started doing stand-up comedy!”
In the next two minutes I learned more about my patient then I had in the last year. And he told me a funny healthcare joke!
Michael Crocetti, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians
At my five-year-old well child visits I say to the child, “So last year we talked about not talking to strangers. This year you are older and it is important to know that sometimes a stranger can help you. Who could help you if you were in a store and you got lost from your mom or dad?”
The child looks at me very seriously and says, “A SUPER HERO!”
Tina Zhang, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
My 80-year-old patient came in for a checkup after a minor car accident.
When I asked him what happened, he said, “My wife was trying to feed me broccoli for dinner so I hightailed it out of there but then got into a car accident on my way to McDonald’s.”
His wife, who was sitting next to him, looked at me and said, “That’s karma for you.”
