How to Be a Good Patient

For the past 10 years I have been a cardiac sonographer. This means I take ultrasound pictures and mini-movies of a patient's heart. Most people that come into a hospital as patients refer to people that perform tests like ultrasounds, x-rays, CT scans, etc, as techs. Techs are the skilled workers that perform tests a Physician has ordered.

As a veteran tech I have dealt with literally thousands and thousands of patients. After seeing so many patients from all walks of life, I have good insight into some common situations that arise in hospital visits. This article explores some of those situations and points out some guidelines patients should follow when dealing with techs.

Patients lost Patience?

The main complaint patients have is the amount of time they wait in the lobby. It's frustrating showing up on time or even early and have to wait till well after your scheduled appointment. It's difficult not to be bitter and rude to the tech when they finally arrive.

However, complaining to the tech is not going to help matters. The tech isn't responsible for scheduling; they're there to get your test done. If they're late getting to you, it's not because they were playing grabass in the back room. It's more likely that they're overbooked or had to deal with some kind of emergency that came up with another patient.

If you are short with the tech they will still do a good job, but it won't be as pleasant for you or them. They'll get you in and out as quickly as possible, because they inevitably have someone else waiting for another test. Don't make their day anymore hectic by taking your frustration out on them. Instead, after your test, ask the receptionist that checked you in if you could speak with a director.

The director can actually do something about the problem. If something was mishandled, they'll be able to get to the bottom of it. The tech simply doesn't have time to stop everything and deal with a scheduling problem.

Ask what can be Answered

The most common question asked of a tech is, "so, how'd it look?" Most patients know that techs cannot give results on the tests they perform. So why ask? Patients understand that techs do these tests all day and know a normal result from an abnormal result. Techs do generally know, but no matter how much you pry they won't give you an answer. This is part of the tech code. In fact they could get into a lot of trouble if they did answer your question. Don't ask the question and you won't put the tech in an awkward situation.

Techs aren't qualified to read or interpret results. For the most part they only have 4 years of college under their belt. The interpreting Physicians have more than double that. Even with my 10 years as an ultrasound tech, I'm still surprised how often I won't see something that a Cardiologist will.

The bottom line is would you rather have your results from a tech, or from an MD? Sure you'll have to wait longer to get the results but they'll be accurate and delivered by a person that knows their field better than any tech ever could.

To put your mind at ease though, here's a tip. There are two things a tech will do if they see something they feel is an emergency. They won't let you leave and they'll call a doctor to immediately review the test. Some facilities do this on all their patients but most don't. For instance if I was doing a cardiac ultrasound on you and I saw something life threatening, I would ask you to remain and would call a Cardiologist. So, if you're allowed to leave you at least know that you probably won't die in the next day from a condition I saw. You won't get results from me, but at least you know I didn't see anything that required emergent care.

Questions and more Questions

Some patients will ask endless questions about tests. Questions are fine and even encouraged but keep them short and meaningful. The two things I tell a patient immediately before starting a test are: how long it'll take and whether or not the test will hurt. These are the two questions I get asked the most and are reasonable.

If you have very specific questions about the test, by all means ask away. But realize that lots of questions make your test take longer and make other patients' stay in the waiting room longer. If you have a lot of questions it may be a good idea to call before your test and ask for a packet of information. The Internet is also a great resource for medical test information.

Techs are on the frontlines everyday performing important tests. For every one doctor you meet you'll probably meet at least 2 or 3 techs. Be considerate, they are there to help. Most techs have gotten into the field, because they're interested in helping people. Treat them with respect and your hospital visit will be more pleasant.