Tough Medical Conversations (The Doctor’s Side)

Tell Me More

The patients I send to a pain management doctor are some of the most challenging cases in our practice.

Typically, these patients have been to physical therapy, they’ve had imaging and been prescribed meds, but they’re still struggling with chronic pain.

So, doctors who specialize in pain management are often tasked with explaining treatment options that sound scary and delivering bad news.

What is the best way to approach these tough medical conversations?

Dr. Ron Lincow, DO, is a pain management doctor with Pain Management Physicians, a private practice out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain conditions with a focus on nonsurgical, musculoskeletal medicine.

On this episode of Tell Me More, Ron shares some of the most difficult conversations he’s had with patients, exploring how to communicate bad news without alarming patients prematurely.

Ron discusses his approach to explaining a patient’s treatment options and describes the challenge of both advocating for patients and protecting your relationships with referring doctors you disagree with.

Listen in for Ron’s advice to patients on processing scary information and learn how doctors can approach tough medical conversations with honestly, empathy and openness.

Key Takeaways

What inspired Ron’s shift from primary care to pain management (6 months shy of finishing school)

How Ron delivered the difficult news that an 18-year-old patient had a brain tumor to her mother

How Ron learned to be truthful in communicating bad news without alarming patients prematurely

The challenge Ron faced in trying to discourage a patient from having back surgery he didn’t need

How to be a patient advocate and protect your relationship with referring doctors you disagree with

Ron’s approach to initiating conversations with patients and explaining their treatment options

What doctors can learn from reading a patient’s body language and facial expressions

Ron’s experience with telling a patient he’d like to wean them off of narcotic pain medication

Why doctors should avoid absolutes, e.g.: telling a patient ‘you have the worst back I’ve ever seen’

Ron’s advice for patients on how to process scary information and follow up with your doctor

The danger in treating an EMG vs. a person and how it led to unnecessary surgery for Ron’s patient

Ron’s challenge to doctors not to leave the examining room if their patient still has questions

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Pain Management Physicians

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