Acute Shoulder Injury Case Study

This is a situation that most physicians can relate to. Imagine that there is a new patient scheduled for a physical. The patient also wants to address a list of concerns like: heart trouble, a mystery rash, sleeplessness, a family history of cancer and some minor infection in the toe. How would you prioritize these concerns? Do you let him know that a physical exam involves focusing on preventive health and doesn’t usually have enough time to address every concern and ailment?
A lot of physicians are facing this issue. Especially the ones that are trying to build their practices. Word of mouth is crucial for the success of a private practice. Hence, it is understandable if the physician does not want to be too rigid in approaching patients. However, this results in working overtime. To avoid this, there is a need for a new approach. We have a couple of examples.
Owing to significant co-morbidities, it was not a clear cut pre-op clearance. The patient also wanted to address an acute shoulder injury. The physician had to tell him that he does not have enough time to address the shoulder injury as there is another patient waiting. However, the patient waiting was the last patient of the day and so the physician would gladly return to the shoulder injury issue if he was willing to wait. The patient agreed, and so the physicians day was extended, and so was the medical assistant’s, and the X-ray technician’s.
The second patient who had come in for a 20-minute evaluation of allergy symptoms was in reality a much more complicated respiratory issue. Moreover, the patient also reported of having episodes of shooting sensation down her left leg. The patient later divulged that the only reason she made the appointment was the leg. The physician offered to finish up with the next patient and come back in the exam room during lunch to evaluate the additional