10 things a Physiotherapist
hears from their Patient in clinical private practice…
This is a simple & light
hearted take on the things we hear from patient every day in our practice as
Physios. See if you as a Physiotherapist can relate to it. & feel free to
leave your kind suggestions & comments as feedback.
1. Doctor
has asked me to take “Light”. Do you give “Light”?
Umm...ya… if that’s what your
Doctor calls it... I do give “Light”. Sometimes that makes me feel like being
the “Sun” in the field of health & fitness. I provide light to people who
need some healing. Jokes apart… There is definitely a time now for patients
& other medical professionals to know the Physiotherapy treatment
modalities as good as they know the names of basic medications they come across
at the chemist shop.
2. Why
will I need 10 sessions of physiotherapy when my relative got better in just 5
sessions?
Hello...
Everybody is different & Every “Body” is different. One can’t expect the
same results in the same number of sessions with every patient. There are many
other factors accompanying the progress of a treatment program.
3. What
is the discount that I will get on my treatment fees?
Oh ya... This question is a must on
the first visit after you have informed them your treatment fees. For some
people paying for treatment is equal to buying vegetables at a market. If you
are a kinder & compassionate type of Physiotherapist then yes you may
reduce the fees or else you nod right & left & send the patient away
with a failed effort to retrieve a bargain from you.
4. Why
are there less number of male therapists as compared to female therapists?
Well…
Do you mean to suggest women have reservation in this field? Why don’t you ask
the males why they are not opting as much? At least; according to me, Physiotherapist
& his/her Physiotherapy treatment is not gender bias.
5. What
degree is MIAP?
Its
time Physios make it clear to their patients it’s not a degree or stop using it
in front of their name like one. It’s confusing the patient big time.
6. Is
this course after 10th or 12th Std? Is it a Medical
Course? Do you start it after MBBS?
I
personally must have explained this to my patients on several occasions but there’s
always another patient coming up with this one. Every time I am asked this question
I realise Physiotherapy still requires the so called “Awareness” we are looking
for from a very long time now.
7. Why
don’t you go abroad; there is lot of scope?
This
is when my patriotic feeling steps in. There might be lot of scope (read in
between the lines as money) in abroad for a physiotherapist but I believe my
roots need physiotherapy awareness & physiotherapist attention more than
ever right now.
8. This
question scares me…”Can I show the exercises I do at home?”
When a Physio advices the patient
on exercise, they demonstrate all sorts of versions of exercises they have been
doing till now. Thanks to the slim, lanky & extremely flexible Baba’s Yoga
program on the television. As a Physio you stand there watching a patient with
less than normal flexibility trying to achieve a position beyond their reach
just because it was advised on the television.
9. Google
says, “……………”
Patients
must understand there is a difference between Google & a Physiotherapist.
Google doesn’t take fees from you for the only reason that it is not risking to
provide you the correct & customised answer to the question related to your
ailment.
On
the other hand a Physio examines you & comes to a customised treatment
program according to your ailment.
Google
has not undergone 4 years of intense academic studies & six months of
internship to give patient the exact form of treatment they need.
Don’t
be a Fool & waste precious time to treat your ailment at the earliest. Any
ailment should not be taken for granted. Visit a Doctor at the Earliest!!
10. And
here comes a “Personal Advice”… MARRY AN ORTHOPAEDIC!!
In case you are married, then they
will ask you Why dint you marry an Orthopaedic? This is followed by an
explanation on how you could have managed your expenses & saved lots of
money. How you both could run a hospital together & making you feel that
may be you took a wrong decision about your own life. Period.
