I had to tell a patient today fairly firmly to stop texting during the clinic visit. [View all]

[Aristus]

She was establishing care, and had some mental health issues. And she just casually sent a text off while I was trying to get her past medical history from her. I ignored it the first time, but when she reached for her phone a second time, I told her: "Why don't you put that away for now? Otherwise I'll have to terminate the visit, and we can do this another time."

I felt like a bit of a heel, especially when she teared up after I told her. But seriously!

I was half tempted to tell her that I had a waiting room full of people wanting a visit who wouldn't text during their evaluation...

Fairly interesting day today. I had to send another new patient to the hospital for possible drug overdose. Found out later she had been admitted to the ICU after urine tox revealed a fairly potent drug cocktail in her system.

I'm ready for a drink...