New Hampshire dermatologist William Danby and his wife and colleague Lynne Margesson are happy to give their patients handouts for a number of very good reasons that benefit both these busy dermatologists and their information-overloaded patients.
Such handouts include treatment specifics, nutritional advice, and even guidelines for choosing over-the-counter products to support their prescribed treatments.
SAVES TIME, REINFORCES VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS
Dr. Danby makes no bones about what’s in it for him. “I use them to save myself time so I don’t need to spend a whole lot of time explaining the same things over and over again.” But the very act of giving such instructions, he says, seems to establish a contract of sorts with patients in that they are made sufficiently aware that they have been given instructions and to remind them that they should be following those instructions.
“Basically, it’s a way to reinforce the teaching that is a major part of what I do with every patient,” he adds.
INTERACTIONAL TOOL
A somewhat unique way he uses these handouts with patients is to “talk them through it,” that is, go over them with patients individually. “I highlight some things, cross out or circle other things, bracket different sections.”This is especially the case with acne for which there are numerous therapies listed. “Then they have something they can stick on fridge or think about. It’s a wonderful tool that integrates them into the thought process.”
EVERYTHING IN WRITING
“The other thing I do that is part of the whole deal is that I dictate my consultation right in front of patients, so they can make corrections or additions if necessary, and if I think it’s worthwhile as part of teaching and the post visit supervision process, I send them a copy of my consultation letter to their referring doctor.”
PATIENTS LIKE IT
Are patients appreciative? “I think there’s no doubt they’re appreciative,” he says, adding that they sometimes ask for extras for friends and family members, a situation that he calls “a challenge.” “You don’t really know what the cousin has, so I usually ask them to have their friend or relative’s doctor give me a call.”
PATIENT FEEDBACK HELPFUL
Dr. Danby says he’s adapted these handouts over the years to reflect not only what he’s learned from reading and his own observations, but also from what his patients tell him. “I let them know they can help me, too. For example, if an atopic dermatitis patient believes another product causes flares, I’ll add that. One “success story” resulted from patient feedback on Dove. “This so-called perfume-free cleansing bar actually had four perfumes.” This point, he repeatedly mentioned at meetings…until the product was reformulated without perfume for sensitive skin. “Only then did I change my handout,” he adds.
Click here for a PDF of DR. DANBY’S SUN PROTECTION GUIDELINES.
New Hampshire dermatologist William Danby and his wife and colleague Lynne Margesson are happy to give their patients handouts for a number of very good reasons that benefit both these busy dermatologists and their information-overloaded patients.
Such handouts include treatment specifics, nutritional advice, and even guidelines for choosing over-the-counter products to support their prescribed treatments.
SAVES TIME, REINFORCES VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS
Dr. Danby makes no bones about what’s in it for him. “I use them to save myself time so I don’t need to spend a whole lot of time explaining the same things over and over again.” But the very act of giving such instructions, he says, seems to establish a contract of sorts with patients in that they are made sufficiently aware that they have been given instructions and to remind them that they should be following those instructions.
“Basically, it’s a way to reinforce the teaching that is a major part of what I do with every patient,” he adds.
INTERACTIONAL TOOL
A somewhat unique way he uses these handouts with patients is to “talk them through it,” that is, go over them with patients individually. “I highlight some things, cross out or circle other things, bracket different sections.”This is especially the case with acne for which there are numerous therapies listed. “Then they have something they can stick on fridge or think about. It’s a wonderful tool that integrates them into the thought process.”
EVERYTHING IN WRITING
“The other thing I do that is part of the whole deal is that I dictate my consultation right in front of patients, so they can make corrections or additions if necessary, and if I think it’s worthwhile as part of teaching and the post visit supervision process, I send them a copy of my consultation letter to their referring doctor.”
PATIENTS LIKE IT
Are patients appreciative? “I think there’s no doubt they’re appreciative,” he says, adding that they sometimes ask for extras for friends and family members, a situation that he calls “a challenge.” “You don’t really know what the cousin has, so I usually ask them to have their friend or relative’s doctor give me a call.”
PATIENT FEEDBACK HELPFUL
Dr. Danby says he’s adapted these handouts over the years to reflect not only what he’s learned from reading and his own observations, but also from what his patients tell him. “I let them know they can help me, too. For example, if an atopic dermatitis patient believes another product causes flares, I’ll add that. One “success story” resulted from patient feedback on Dove. “This so-called perfume-free cleansing bar actually had four perfumes.” This point, he repeatedly mentioned at meetings…until the product was reformulated without perfume for sensitive skin. “Only then did I change my handout,” he adds.
Click here for a PDF of DR. DANBY’S SUN PROTECTION GUIDELINES.
New Hampshire dermatologist William Danby and his wife and colleague Lynne Margesson are happy to give their patients handouts for a number of very good reasons that benefit both these busy dermatologists and their information-overloaded patients.
Such handouts include treatment specifics, nutritional advice, and even guidelines for choosing over-the-counter products to support their prescribed treatments.
SAVES TIME, REINFORCES VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS
Dr. Danby makes no bones about what’s in it for him. “I use them to save myself time so I don’t need to spend a whole lot of time explaining the same things over and over again.” But the very act of giving such instructions, he says, seems to establish a contract of sorts with patients in that they are made sufficiently aware that they have been given instructions and to remind them that they should be following those instructions.
“Basically, it’s a way to reinforce the teaching that is a major part of what I do with every patient,” he adds.
INTERACTIONAL TOOL
A somewhat unique way he uses these handouts with patients is to “talk them through it,” that is, go over them with patients individually. “I highlight some things, cross out or circle other things, bracket different sections.”This is especially the case with acne for which there are numerous therapies listed. “Then they have something they can stick on fridge or think about. It’s a wonderful tool that integrates them into the thought process.”
EVERYTHING IN WRITING
“The other thing I do that is part of the whole deal is that I dictate my consultation right in front of patients, so they can make corrections or additions if necessary, and if I think it’s worthwhile as part of teaching and the post visit supervision process, I send them a copy of my consultation letter to their referring doctor.”
PATIENTS LIKE IT
Are patients appreciative? “I think there’s no doubt they’re appreciative,” he says, adding that they sometimes ask for extras for friends and family members, a situation that he calls “a challenge.” “You don’t really know what the cousin has, so I usually ask them to have their friend or relative’s doctor give me a call.”
PATIENT FEEDBACK HELPFUL
Dr. Danby says he’s adapted these handouts over the years to reflect not only what he’s learned from reading and his own observations, but also from what his patients tell him. “I let them know they can help me, too. For example, if an atopic dermatitis patient believes another product causes flares, I’ll add that. One “success story” resulted from patient feedback on Dove. “This so-called perfume-free cleansing bar actually had four perfumes.” This point, he repeatedly mentioned at meetings…until the product was reformulated without perfume for sensitive skin. “Only then did I change my handout,” he adds.
Click here for a PDF of DR. DANBY’S SUN PROTECTION GUIDELINES.
