Deep breaths are vagal stimulators. They’re one of a set of actions called “pacifying behaviors”—things you do to make you feel less stressful. In business situations, like when you’re dealing with your supervisor or administrator, they are seen as signs of anxiety, uncertainty, and weakness. A well-trained counterparty is trained to look for them and adjust their behavior accordingly. They will demand more, be more assertive, accept less—all because...
Read MoreMost clinicians are now paid based on the actions of patients, not themselves. Congratulations, you’re no longer practicing the art of medicine, you’re in the business of influence. It’s ironic. The electronic health record was introduced to ease the collection and analysis of patient care data. Improved outcomes through meeting metrics. But at the same time, clinician behaviors resulting from the introduction...
Read MoreFor Clinicians and clinicians-to-be He was pretty bland as insurance execs go—-but more than any other he burned my soul. A decade ago when reviewing the first “pay-for-performance” plan our practice was going to have to swallow, he educated us on our metrics reporting. Fully 88% of those between 50 and 75 years old who actually had colons and had not had colon cancer were going to have to have a colonoscopy or...
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