Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…
This week, we are welcoming back onto the mini-podcast Dr. Todd Swenning, Director of Orthopaedic Trauma at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, and Medical Director for the Institute of Clinical Orthopedics and Neurosciences. Dr. Swenning will talk to us about patient advocacy, specifically about taking an active part in bettering patient care and thereby improving patient satisfaction.
How does he suggest we become the best advocates for our patients day-to-day? By doing the following:
- Ask yourself how you can be a better patient advocate and remove your own biases from the conversation.
- Listen objectively and take steps to answer the questions the patient should be asking.
- Be aware of the concept and think actively about it.
- Afterwards, debrief and think critically about how each interaction went.
PRACTICE this, and it will become easier over time and make you a better physician.
Guest: Todd Swenning, MD
If you’re not familiar with Dr. Todd Swenning, he is actively involved in policy making and advocacy with the Orthopedic Trauma Association as well as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Todd is a dedicated educator, teaching principles of trauma management and patient advocacy both nationally and internationally. Todd is also involved in research projects in both fracture and trauma management.