Dr. Sharon Orrange
Primary Care Physician
Dr Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California San Diego and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…
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LOCATION: Santa Monica, CA, USA
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  • Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric, Hospital and General Internal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 11
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10 Things Your Primary Care Doctor Does That Should Make You Run for the Hills
128
Posted in Alcoholism by Dr. Sharon Orrange on Oct 03, 2008

In the last year I've had the opportunity to be a patient and a Doctor. I have frustrations like you do so I came up with my list. 


1) Dr X leaves you waiting more than 45 minutes in the room on more than one occasion without an explanation or a quick apology when entering the room "I'm sorry to keep you waiting." Another way to handle it is to have the nurse let you know "Dr X is running 30 minutes late today so you can grab a coffee or a magazine"


2) Dr X's office provides no way for you to reach a HUMAN VOICE afterhours or on the weekends if you have a medical issue that requires attention THAT NIGHT.


3) Dr X smells like cigarette smoke. I get it...it's a hard habit to kick....but you can't smell like cigarettes when you are going to counsel your patients about modifying their risk factors for stroke and heart disease. You should cut it out during your clinic day.


4) Dr X doesn't touch you. You have a specific complaint (shortness of breath, knee pain, sore throat) and your primary care doctor doesn't look or listen to the affected area....maybe I'm old school but the answer so often lies in the physical exam


5) You are having severe pain (i.e. back pain after you lifted a couch), not relieved with over the counter meds, and Dr X is unwilling to prescribe pain meds for breakthrough pain because "they are addictive". We are dismal at treating pain in the primary care setting for unfounded fears of this. Short term use of Vicodin, Tylenol with codeine, etc for treatment of acute pain is completely fine for most patients.


6) You are talking about feeling depressed, sad or discussing a painful life event (the recent loss of a parent, etc) and you start to cry.... and you notice Dr X appears uncomfortable and tries to change the subject. Bad news.


7) A recent study showed that during 30% of primary care visits the doctor spent more time talking about themselves than they did the patient. Ok my patients often ask me how my kids are. 30 seconds...that's the amount of time I spend talking about myself. This visit is about YOU and we are already limited in what we can do in 15 minutes.


8) Dr X says "that's just part of getting old" when you have a complaint. Its true: arthritis, visual changes, decreased hearing, sun damaged skin are among the fun things that go along with getting old but WE CAN STILL HAVE A PLAN to deal with them and alter their course.


9) Dr X delivers bad news (loss of a pregnancy, a positive STD test, a new cancer diagnosis) with language that is short, sharp, rushed and without emotion. Some news will change a person's life forever and they will always remember that moment.....to add to it with a cold delivery is just painful.


10) Dr X can't say "I don't know what that is....but let's make sure it's not something worrisome". Often a patient has a pain, skin lesion, weird symptom that occurs only when they are doing such and such activity and I don't know WHAT it is. But it's your doc's job to admit that...and say they will do their best to monitor it and rule out worrisome things.


Am I missing anything? 


Dr O.


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Displaying comments 128-109 of 128
128
Criterum #6 rules out 90% of the doctors I've ever dealt with! They might be good at diagnosing and treating disease, but their social skills are lacking. The fact that medical students are graded on "compassion" during clinical rounds of various departments shows that there is recognition of a problem by medical educators. It's a sad commentary. Also, if a doctor is too compassionate, won't he burnout more quickly?
By Bliggy  Nov 01, 2009
127
Please add dismissive, argumentative attitudes. Also, overly political about the health care debate saying things like, "if congress passes that, I won't make any money"...I fired my doc for that one.
By soreadytogo  Oct 17, 2009
126
Please add to the list overly rapid diagnoses. I had a doctor prescribe medication with really even letting me finish describing my symptoms. It felt like a snap judgment that ignored the possibility of me being different from any other patient in that doctor's care. I felt concerned after that, and didn't trust the prescription until having some further discussion.
By monkeyboyJr  Apr 14, 2009
125
I have gone to a pain management Doctor. I have D.D.D. 3 of them in my lower back. When the Doctor gives me the second shot after that we go into another room and wait for a reaction to it. Well a lot of us patients got a headache with it and his response was: "whats with everyone getting headaches" with a laugh to go with that statement. Anyway that was his reaction when I told him I had the headache. Was I very P-Oed at him. But my primary Dr. says this Dr. is the only one in town to give me the shots I need. So what can ya do? Not go back to him and stay in pain really severe pain and not be able to move much. Or go back to him to get the shot so you can move more and suffer the lousy bedside manner. The choice is up to the individual who gets the shots. 3 shots mind you and the second one is the worst one. Thanks Folks!
By ladyyuma58  Apr 04, 2009
124
Perhaps you should add "having a water bottle in his/her lab coat" as that definately speaks high volumes of "high maintenance" MD to you when you see a patient do it. Gosh, don't Doctors get thirsty too?
By inaffittoooften  Apr 04, 2009
123
#10-
I totally get this. Right before I was diagnosed with MS I went to my PCP because my back pain and leg weakness got a lot worse due to a fall after a shower. Her exact words were, "I have no idea what is wrong with you, you need an MRI I am sending you to the ER." The clinic I go to for my primary stuff does not have extensive testing mechanisms because of budget constraints with the university, but the clinic across town and hospital does.
I can totally respect this. She saw a problem. She realized that the problem was beyond her immediate expertise and beyond what the student health center could provide, so she sent me to get the adequate help for my condition. When she got the records back from the hospital and the neuro, it didn't suprise her that it was MS, but at the time she did not think of MS as a cause because MS is extremely hard to diagnose as it mimics so many other conditions at times.
I just hope that after I leave school I can find a decent PCP that will listen to my concerns and realize that I am not being a baby when there is something wrong with me!
By dihenry  Apr 03, 2009
122
Talking to you like your are 5 years old is, unless you are actually 5, extremely annoying.
By SophieB123  Nov 21, 2008
121
Dr X rushes through the appointment and his explaination of his found knowledge leaving the paitent with questions that they do not understand, or says you will be fine think positive. This is hard for someone with ADD and depression.
By Waitingforhim  Nov 21, 2008
120
Thanks Doctor for caring enough to let us know what we should know about our physcians. You sound very compassionate and I wish more doctors were like you...
By lizjohn  Nov 14, 2008
119
I have met my PCP doctor one time in the year I have been going there. There is a sign on the wall that says we have nurse practioners and doctor's assistants to see you.
The one time the doctor came in he asked if I wanted a screen put in my leg in case I get a blood clot. I said no. He checked my back and never said to take a deep breathe. After he left the doctor's assistant said she knew he had checked it but she needed to also. Sure she did, she needed to do it right!
At least I will know what he looks like if I ever have to go to the hospital and he walks in!
I hear more and more people say they don't ever see their doctor either. So what are these doctors doing all day? Just sitting there at a desk? taking a nap?
I was always accustomed to a doctor seeing me every time I came to the office so this was a shock. I know not all doctors are like this.
By Ann60  Nov 13, 2008
118
Over the last 2 weeks, I have had 2 bad experiences with my Dr. 1... I called because I was given Clinoril for my arthritis, Was having bad Diarrhea, was told to just continue my Ultracet.. I DON"T EVEN TAKE ULTRACET... told the nurse that.. she didn't know what to say.. keep in mind that I get the call back from the nurse 10 minutes after the clinic has closed. So I called the next day to say I DON"T TAKE ULTRACET, I need something to take , I am hurting, the nurse said.. well we called you in some Ultram on _____ and also a refill.. I said, I know and I don't have any more, she quickly said.. you should have some left.. maybe you are just taking too many of them, she was gonna have to call the pharmacy and check on this before she could do anything for me.. this was at 12:15.. about 1:00 I decided to call my pharmacist, and see if the nurse called and to also make sure I hadn't taken too many of them,(the nurse made me even doubt myself) She said the nurse had called and that she had told her that if I was taking the Ultram like it was prescribed I would have been out 2 weeks ago. So I waited to see when the nurse would call me back and let me know , the pharmacist also told me the nurse called me in some Ultram.. I DIDN;T EVEN CALL FOR ULTRAM>> IT DON"T HELP!! 5:00 came , clinic closed... no call from the nurse.. so the next day I went first thing and picked up the Ultram, I had to have something, it may help some but not alot, so I got back home and waited.. finally around lunch I called out there, and explained that I had NOT been called back.. the secretary said.. You know you have some samples up front waiting for you to pick up... I said NO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.. it was Lidoderm patches.. and no one had bothered to call me and tell me about them, nor did anybody call me and tell me they had called me some more Ultram in to the pharmacy. The secretary said she would let the Dr. know .
2..... Friday, I had a migraine a severe one, throwing up bad, so I called the clinic about 2:00, at 4:00 , no call yet, so my husband called back out there and the secretary apologized , she said they had been swamped with giving the flu shots, he just explained to her that I had a migraine and that I needed the rescue shot,, so she put him on hold and went and asked. and MY doctor said I don't have time to see her. O.k. just slap me in the face.. what she should have just said was I don't want to see her anymore. Oh she did say she'll just have to go to the after hours clinic. She knows I hate going out there, we have talked about it before!! I am now HUNTING A NEW DR!!!
By LKim  Nov 09, 2008
117
Phone calls. I think it is the height of rudeness, in general, when you are in the company of others to take a call, mobile or otherwise. In terms of a Doctor, it is completly unprofessional. My GP takes calls almost every visit and it infuriates me. Once he was talking about a patient I actually knew from a long time ago (small town). Doctors pay receptionists for a reason- use them Dox! I get that you are a doctor but if it is that much of an emergeny they call an ambulance.
By chunkychick  Nov 06, 2008
116
Snapped at my GP that there was no point in him extending my life it he was to then waste it by having me wait 45 mins in his waiting room. That's Ribavirin rage for you.
By Edward0  Nov 04, 2008
115
My doctors have never seen anything like my case, lately, to any question I ask, I get a shoulder shrug and an "Iono" kind of response. It's really getting irritating. Plus, my docs also "told" me what I had (they said I had an eating disorder-when really I had SMA syndrome) and tried to put me in the psych ward. They have screwed up too many times to count. I'm 18 and they STILL talk over my head to my parents and have a look of astonishment when I ask a question. Plus, even though I tell them that a specific drug therapy hasn't worked in the past, I get a "well, let's try it again" or "let's try a drug similar but not the same". Whatever. This is getting too long!
By Irishdancer216  Nov 04, 2008
114
The worst experiences I've had with doctors is when they don't listen. I consider myself a relatively intelligent person and I like to be aware of what's going on with my health. I've had neurological issues since I was 12, so I know a bit about it.

I was hit in the head and I started having symptoms of seizures. I've been tested for seizures since I was young, and it's always been negative, but I knew about several types. Though I couldn't go to the doctor and say, I'm having this type of seizure, I was able to say, I am having these symptoms and I think they are seizures. My doctor took one look at me and diagnosed me with panic attacks. NO TESTS. Apparently, your eyes can't roll back into your head while your conscious (now, I've found out that my eyes have rolled back into my head a number of times -- or at least looked like it to the casual observer. And I am conscious. Just without awareness). She prescribed Paxil, sent me on my way. I talked to another doctor who actually LISTENED to what I was saying, sent me to the hospital for a video EEG and, guess what? New onset seizures, likely the result of a head trauma.

I know there are hypochondriacs and I may even be somewhat so, at least when it comes to weird new head symptoms following a hit to the head. But I would at least like them to be checked out. I pay for insurance and my insurance pays Dr. X not for the lovely conversation or the prescriptions (which I still have to help pay for), but for medical services. Advice. Consultation. PROPER diagnosis. You know, the things a good doctor is supposed to do.
By sillydreamer  Oct 30, 2008
113
notice on the wall says if your 10 minuts late you'll have to resucdle but I'm expected to wait as long a 2 hours and not conplain.
By kly  Oct 27, 2008
112
As for the wait thing, it is usually a patient who is a walk-in (but they do schedule a certain percentage of appts just devoted to walk in's), but mostly it is because when a patient who is scheduled for their ten minute chk, goes in with about 10 other complaints besides, which the doctor, if they are a good one, will also address, and that makes him/her run late. Plus, some of them have to do rounds @ lunch time, returns telephone calls, dictate charts in between a free moment here & there (believe it or not, doing dictation isn't something a DR is paid for & lots of DR's spend their time doing by getting up very, very early--try 5AM b4 work, after supper till 9 or 10PM @ nite or skipping lunch altogether if they don't have the luxury of doing it @ home by calling the automated telephone system @ work [if they even have that, some still may use dictaphones, which is frustrating when you have to re-do a whole tape's worth!!], and looking up your chart online via the VPN @ the hospital/clinic computer internet system if they have a very busy practice), be on-call, patients arriving late/not on time, etc. It is a very demanding job both mentally & physically; I should know because my mom is a doctor. Sometimes when I am sitting in her waiting room waiting for my own family practice doctor, I hear other patients making snarky comments & complaints about my mom & it just infuriates me!! Some of those things listed are bad, bad arriving late isn't going to help the situation. Her clinic has a 10 min rule; you arrive 10 mins late, you may or may not get seen because the doctors have to wait on YOU & so do the other patients. Everybody is talking about firing doctors, well they have the same right to fire YOU.
By valmont32677  Oct 24, 2008
111
I love going to the doctor early. I can get caught up on all the magines in the waiting room.
By kly  Oct 23, 2008
110
Dr O...I try to arrive at the Doc's office about 10 or 15 mins late. That way it offsets the late time that I know his schedule is running on. The later I go in to see him, usually the sooner I get to see him. I don't why, but it works...G
By ghur4  Oct 22, 2008
109
I don't mind waiting for my doc when she runs behind - I know when it's my turn she'll take the time with me, too. What makes me crazy is waiting for test results...for weeks. This isn't usually the case with my PCP - it's much more common with my specialists, and I now just request a copy of the results directly from the testing facility. HELLO DOCS...no news is NOT good news. No news is no news . They only way I know that you got the results back, reviewed them, and they're okay (or not) is if someone contacts me. If you don't want me to call the office looking for the results, don't make me wait for weeks on end for a test I know you got the results for in 24 hours. And God help you if I get abnormal results from the lab that your office filed without reviewing (or worse, that you reviewed and failed to notify me). Yep, it's happened.
By kaydi8  Oct 22, 2008
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