Tell the good and bad apart...

wow... i had a chance to be a simulated patient for an MRCP (specialist exam) course on ethics and communications for the medical officers. it was a pretty insightful experience...

apart from the briefing and discussions which taught me a lot about ethics and communications, there's one thing which really broadened up my perspective! you can really tell which candidate is gonna be a super good doctor and which will probably just be ok...

as the good candidate continued the conversation and did all the necessary to answer my concerns, i really felt reassured and satisfied! it's a kinda very wholesome feeling... something like "yeah. this doctor knows his stuff and i'm in good hands. i can totally trust him and all the things he say!" and i also realized that i feel good when the doctor is sensitive enough to anticipate your worries and hence asks me about it in a nice manner. rather than me having to voice it out myself...

an ok dr will sound kinda unsure... lotsa erms here and there... eyes darting towards the paper a couple of times. but then still manages to get the message and facts across to the patient... although a bit haphazard, he achieved the aims stated on the checklist... and will probably pass. however, as a patient, i wouldn't be as convinced by him. i would be like "ok... i guess that's what it is. hmm..."

the examiner, who was in-charge of my patient scenario, pointed out to me that essentially, tt's what's gonna happen in real life! the patient will see you, see other doctors and compare! they may not know the hard facts and medical knowledge but they'll base it on their feelings! the feelings they obtained from the doctor's non-verbal cues, sensitivity and confidence.

a pity this course was one day after our communications osce... cos maybe i would've picked up something to help me do better for some of the stations. then again, what is 100 min of communications osce compared to a life-time of being a doctor? this is definitely still a precious piece of learning material... it certainly helped me understand some of the essence of a good doctor and hopefully someday i'll be able to rise and meet the expectations tt i set for myself.