overly personal patients - how to handle

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AAM2013

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How do you handle patients who try to get too personal with you? I am a dental student and I have a 50some-old male patient who I've only seen once. He was very nice and friendly, and we got along great. However, since then (3 weeks) he has tried calling me nearly a dozen times (I always let it go to voicemail) and he's texted me maybe half a dozen times just to tell me about his day and how he's loving his smile so much. I responded via text only once, basically saying "you're welcome" and that I was glad that my services have helped him. Most recently, he has started sending me selfies- "enjoying my new smile at the mall,.. the beach,... at dinner". And just today, he sent me a photo of himself in just swim trunks, at the beach with his granddaughters, "enjoying the sun".

How would you proceed in this situation? I feel that this patient is too overbearing, he makes me feel uncomfortable, and I would like for him to stop contacting me. However, I am torn because I don't want to discredit his graciousness, or offend him by mistaking his friendliness (potential loneliness) as creepiness.
 
AAM2013 said:
How do you handle patients who try to get too personal with you? I am a dental student and I have a 50some-old male patient who I've only seen once. He was very nice and friendly, and we got along great. However, since then (3 weeks) he has tried calling me nearly a dozen times (I always let it go to voicemail) and he's texted me maybe half a dozen times just to tell me about his day and how he's loving his smile so much. I responded via text only once, basically saying "you're welcome" and that I was glad that my services have helped him. Most recently, he has started sending me selfies- "enjoying my new smile at the mall,.. the beach,... at dinner". And just today, he sent me a photo of himself in just swim trunks, at the beach with his granddaughters, "enjoying the sun".

How would you proceed in this situation? I feel that this patient is too overbearing, he makes me feel uncomfortable, and I would like for him to stop contacting me. However, I am torn because I don't want to discredit his graciousness, or offend him by mistaking his friendliness (potential loneliness) as creepiness.
Click to expand...
Block his cell number so you don't get the texts. Do you have to see him in followup or can you ask your supervisor to assign another student?
 
How did he get your number?! Yikes. I would definitely block as @wysdoc said and see if someone else can't take over care at followups.
 
He has my Google Voice number, but I have the app so I see the texts and calls on my phone. Would you guys say anything before blocking him? Maybe I'm just too overly sensitive, but it seems so cold!
 
vellnueve said:
Blocking a pt could be considered pt abandonment. Do not do it. Speak with your faculty.
Click to expand...

Patient abandonment? No way. The patient can still contact the school for emergencies, treatment and scheduling with the OP. Not letting patients contact you on your personal device is not abandoning them.

OP, tough situation to be in, good to learn the lesson early. In the future, don't offer text messaging to patients, while it is convenient, you open yourself up to these issues and HIPAA violations. Texting with a patient regarding their treatment is a violation, as you cannot be sure you are actually speaking with the patient.
 
There is usually some sort of policy in place for inappropriate patients. At our clinic, if a patient makes you feel uncomfortable for some reason you can tell your faculty and they will take the appropriate measures to either have them transferred to a different student or dismissed from the program.
 
Str82th said:
Patient abandonment? No way. The patient can still contact the school for emergencies, treatment and scheduling with the OP. Not letting patients contact you on your personal device is not abandoning them.

OP, tough situation to be in, good to learn the lesson early. In the future, don't offer text messaging to patients, while it is convenient, you open yourself up to these issues and HIPAA violations. Texting with a patient regarding their treatment is a violation, as you cannot be sure you are actually speaking with the patient.
Click to expand...


I'd check the school's policies to be sure. At any rate you need to talk to your faculty before taking action.
 
AAM2013 said:
How do you handle patients who try to get too personal with you? I am a dental student and I have a 50some-old male patient who I've only seen once. He was very nice and friendly, and we got along great. However, since then (3 weeks) he has tried calling me nearly a dozen times (I always let it go to voicemail) and he's texted me maybe half a dozen times just to tell me about his day and how he's loving his smile so much. I responded via text only once, basically saying "you're welcome" and that I was glad that my services have helped him. Most recently, he has started sending me selfies- "enjoying my new smile at the mall,.. the beach,... at dinner". And just today, he sent me a photo of himself in just swim trunks, at the beach with his granddaughters, "enjoying the sun".

How would you proceed in this situation? I feel that this patient is too overbearing, he makes me feel uncomfortable, and I would like for him to stop contacting me. However, I am torn because I don't want to discredit his graciousness, or offend him by mistaking his friendliness (potential loneliness) as creepiness.
Click to expand...

I'll look at it from a pragmatic perspective. Does this patient have anything you need to graduate? You don't want to alienate this patient if he has two easy RPD's and a bunch of other work that needs to be done that would help you in finishing. As bad as it sounds, suck it up until you're done.

If not, see above posts regarding school policies.
 
Talk to your Patient coordinator or faculty. Don't tolerate inappropriate behavior anyway - you would feel disgusted afterward - just tell him, that you are not allowed to text patients and patients should not text you, only phone calls
 
Big Time Hoosier said:
To prevent this kind of stuff, set up a Google Voice phone number. It's free, or at least it used to be.

Big Hoss
Click to expand...
That's what I did. I still give out that number to patients, they are flattered, I'm protected.


Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 
AAM2013 said:
He has my Google Voice number, but I have the app so I see the texts and calls on my phone. Would you guys say anything before blocking him? Maybe I'm just too overly sensitive, but it seems so cold!
Click to expand...
I think you did everything right.
Just keep ignoring him. Don't fuel the fire. I think he's just happy and - as a grandfather - is less aware of new social boundaries.

PD

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 
vellnueve said:
Blocking a pt could be considered pt abandonment. Do not do it. Speak with your faculty.
Click to expand...
Abandonment? No. He still has the office number that was used before the cell # was available.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 
I recently had to have the police tell an ex patient to stop contacting me otherwise it would be harassment and I could get a restraining order.
 
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