Cultural Influences on Primary Care Delivery

Excerpt

The elderly patient and her son walked together into primary care clinic, scoliosis obvious and painful with each step. I sat in a corner, quietly observing. In just 5 min, the patient’s doctor listened carefully, performed a focused physical, reviewed her films with her, empathized, and clarified. Smiling, he reviewed expected improvement, and prescribed physical therapy and non-opiate pain medications. She nodded, asked a question, and expressed relief. All were satisfied with the outcome. For 2 min, the physician charted a brief note, including his exam findings. He was done. The next patient entered the room, brought in by the nurse. …