“My main suggestion goes more to structuring the time spent with the doctor: During the initial consultation, allow patients to keep their clothes on. When you stop and really think about it, one person—naked and The one-person-perfectly-crafted scenario creates a power imbalance that’s laughable.—Pam Weinstein, Detroit, Mich.
“I would recommend that all medical personnel be required to have a uniform and name badge that is pinned above heart level, so that patients can quickly know who they are talking to.” – Pam Horowitz, Mullica Hill, NJ
“Rethink constant weighing. For those doctors who insist on weighing you at every appointment, even for a sore throat, take that scale out of the hallway and into an exam room. ( One of my doctors told you to weigh yourself on a manual scale in the exam room, and then leave it for a nurse to record.) And don’t weigh someone and take their blood pressure right away!—Catherine Stanford, Alexandria , VA.
“I’d love to ask doctors if there’s any previous trauma that they should be aware of. It’s really difficult to disclose these kinds of things, but asking shows that there is some awareness of the implications, especially in medical settings. – Leah Skrzypiec, Brooklyn, NY
“I noticed something in a family practice office that should be in every medical office everywhere: When I was given my urine cup, I was also given a slip of paper and a pen and instructed that I would First read the slip of paper carefully my sample. The newspaper said, ‘If you are experiencing any kind of abuse, please check the box next to this paragraph and submit this slip of paper along with the urine sample. Hand the piece over to the nurse. If you check the box, you’ll receive a one-on-one consultation with the doctor.’” — Dez Crawford, Portland, Ore.
“I will never forget going with a friend to a major hospital in Philadelphia for radiation treatment. The waiting room was filled with people of all ages, possibly all battling cancer. I found the gray walls of the waiting room depressing. My Have a friend who is an artist and I just wanted to go over with him and start painting a vibrant, evocative mural; we will probably get arrested, but it will be worth it. Physicians Offices and Treatment Centers Colorful Paint and Mural Using pictures can create a relaxing, positive environment, which can help take patients’ minds off the treatment they’re about to experience.—Denise Ferko-Adams, Nazareth, Pa.
“My first gynecologist plastered the ceiling in her exam room with pictures of hunky, ‘Baywatch’-style boys. It was brilliant because it gave you something to look at (and joke about) while You were being rammed in. – Christina Smith Anderson, Brooklyn, NY