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What are your dealbreakers? We put up with a lot of nonsense from our patients...because podiatry...but how far is too far? This isn't about ego or having a superiority complex for me. Rather, it's about asserting our boundaries so we don't burn out on things we don't need to be doing so we can be at 100% for the things we DO need to be doing.
Let's get through the obvious ones: drug seeking, violent threats, harassing doctors/staff/other patients, medical legal.
1. Early on in practice, I had an obese wheelchair bound lady who didn't like to extend her legs because she was too fat and disgusting to do so comfortably. She expected me to sit on the floor to trim her toenails for her. I think I did it one time because I was only about 2 weeks on the job and still used to being abused in residency. 2nd visit I said to her either put up your legs for 5min or go elsewhere
2. I had a c&c patient who was really demanding about everything. His insurance paid good for the c&c so I tolerated him at first. He had prediabetes but wanted magic shoes from me. I told him only patients with actual diabetes are eligible for magic shoes. He must have hassled his PCP to diagnose him with diabetes because as soon as that diagnosis was made, he made life miserable for my staff about getting those shoes. That's not the best part. He takes a bloodthinner and I guess his toenails scratched is legs in bed at night, so he wanted his nails trimmed every month. He came in with a note from his PCP stating he needed monthly nail care "owing to his diabetes and vascular disease." I then proceeded to lay a verbal smackdown upon this patient like an elementary school principal to a disruptive little boy, telling him that there is zero medical justification for monthly nailcare appointments, that this is a waste of scarce medical resources (i.e. my time), and that he would need to take some responsibility for his own personal hygiene.
As we can see, it always comes back to toenails. Any other deal breakers out there?
Let's get through the obvious ones: drug seeking, violent threats, harassing doctors/staff/other patients, medical legal.
1. Early on in practice, I had an obese wheelchair bound lady who didn't like to extend her legs because she was too fat and disgusting to do so comfortably. She expected me to sit on the floor to trim her toenails for her. I think I did it one time because I was only about 2 weeks on the job and still used to being abused in residency. 2nd visit I said to her either put up your legs for 5min or go elsewhere
2. I had a c&c patient who was really demanding about everything. His insurance paid good for the c&c so I tolerated him at first. He had prediabetes but wanted magic shoes from me. I told him only patients with actual diabetes are eligible for magic shoes. He must have hassled his PCP to diagnose him with diabetes because as soon as that diagnosis was made, he made life miserable for my staff about getting those shoes. That's not the best part. He takes a bloodthinner and I guess his toenails scratched is legs in bed at night, so he wanted his nails trimmed every month. He came in with a note from his PCP stating he needed monthly nail care "owing to his diabetes and vascular disease." I then proceeded to lay a verbal smackdown upon this patient like an elementary school principal to a disruptive little boy, telling him that there is zero medical justification for monthly nailcare appointments, that this is a waste of scarce medical resources (i.e. my time), and that he would need to take some responsibility for his own personal hygiene.
As we can see, it always comes back to toenails. Any other deal breakers out there?
