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July 24th, 2024

When Testing Gets in the Way

  1. When Testing Gets in the Way Christine Meyer 24:01

When a patient comes to me with complicated symptoms, I typically order a series of tests to arrive at a diagnosis. But what happens if those tests all come back normal?

There are conditions that can’t be identified by CAT scans, blood tests or ultrasounds. And sometimes testing only adds to a patient’s Anxiety and makes them feel worse.

So, how do you decide when testing is necessary and when it isn’t?

On this inaugural episode of Tell Me More, I sit down with my pediatrician husband, Christopher, to discuss how his approach to testing differs from mine and why testing children often does more harm than good.

We explain why American doctors tend to over-rely on tests, and I share a case study of a patient whose tubal ligation post ablation syndrome couldn’t be diagnosed with a CAT scan, ultrasound or lab work.

Listen in to understand how poor communication leads to patient mistrust and learn how to diagnose patients and communicate clearly—without over-relying on tests.

Key Takeaways

How my pediatrician husband Christopher’s testing philosophy differs from mine

The question Christopher asks before ordering a test for a patient

Why doctors in India look down on American physicians for our overreliance on tests

How my patient with tubal ligation post ablation syndrome couldn’t be diagnosed through testing

Why testing in children often does more harm than good

An example of a young leukemia patient who could have been diagnosed sooner with lab work

Why doctors tend to write off patients when their tests come back normal

How power of suggestion makes us believe a problem is much worse

How a doctor’s inability to communicate leads to patient frustration and mistrust

The power in showing confidence and humility in communication with patients

Connect with Dr. Meyer

Dr. Meyer’s Website

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Dr. Meyer on LinkedIn

Email: christine@christinemeyermd.com

Resources

Atul Gawande

Christine Meyer Internal Medicine Doctor

I am an internal medicine doctor with 20-plus years of experience. 19 years ago, I started my practice. Since then, it has grown to 20 clinicians and is the region's largest privately owned primary care practice. I am passionate about preserving the private medical practice and improving doctor-patient communication. My podcast hosts doctors and patients alike in the hopes of bridging the gap between them.

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