Dealing with "Web-Trained" Patient/Family Members.

[BostonTerrierLover]

My mother needs ___________, I read it online! Call her Doctor Please. (3am)

Now, before I upset anyone, I am not talking about the desperate "Cancer Families" seeking other treatment forms, or the Patient that hasn't got any better despite all Medical efforts.

You know who I'm speaking off, . . .The family member or patient that can Diagnose the Problem, form a treatment plan, and tell the doctor exactly what medications they need, and How long they need to be in the hospital. They know what labs need to be ran, and think they should have access to 24/7 MD support for the slightest idea or question.

I am not talking about the patient/family who want to better understand their diagnosis, treatment plan, options, and prognosis. I am talking about Medical Plan Mutiny!

"Can you call Dr. XXXXXXX?, I read about XXXXXXXXX on XXXXXXX.com and he is way off in left field with his treatment. I want YOU to recommend XXXXXXXX!" (2:30 AM Sunday, Day Before D/C according to Progress Note)

How do you deal with patients/family members who get an online 24 hour Medical Degree?

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Omg, I got to use that one before you get it copyrighted! That is just Genius!

Too late. It's patented too!

[kids]

These wackos aren't finding WebMD on their own, insurance companies are pointing them there.

Got Cigna or Anthem BC/BS? If your employer opted for a policy that includes it you get automaticly enrolled at WebMD and can upload your lab results and other records uploaded and *manage* your health care.

And y'all do realize that the very reliable and often cited Medscape is owned by WebMD, right?

Go there Medscape: Medscape Access

Scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll see these little words: All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC. This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

The problem is not the information contained in WebMD -- I find it to be a high quality site to supplement patient/family education. The problem is laypeople with little/no medical knowledge and the lack of perspective they bring to their Google searches and WebMD details.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

My favorites are the ones with their laptop right in their room with them, looking up the medications as you give them, then an hour later call the nurse back into the room in a panic from having vague, rare-incident, impossible to quantify side effects that they read about online.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Commonly-asked question every time I hand over a script for a med the MD wants them to start? "Does this have any side effects?"

Well, yes, every single medication has side effects. Ever read an aspirin bottle? But it's incredibly common for patients to want a drug that has NO possible side effects. 100% perfect in every way.

Crimminy, they want the Mary Poppins Medication.

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

I had a family that wrote everything that was said down in this beat-up "Novel" of a 5 subject college rule notebook. BPs, HRs, Meds given, Doctor's Conversations, and on and on. It really didn't bother me that they were doing this as much as walking in the room with my crocks on, sliding halfway across the floor, and busting my tail while the patient (who of course was an angel, it was the daughter who was the author of her mothers care diary) bursted out in laughter trying to manage the words, "OMG! are you okay?!!!

After getting up and dusting off my dirty white (required scrubs), I looked the daughter square in her eyes and said, . . .

"Lets keep that Off The Record please, and walked out disgusted and embarrased!"

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I've had budding novelists as well. The patients' family member who writes down absolutely everything from what time they asked/received pain meds to when linens were changed to what the nurse said the doctor said....etc. LOVE those folks, to be sure.

[Merlyn]

And then there is the "Oprah Syndraome".

"I saw on Oprah/Maury/Ellen/whatever a person who was in a coma for years and then woke up and was better so my father/mother/whatever will do the same. And they were better RIGHT AWAY! - cause Oprah/Maury/whatever did not show the thousands of hours in physio/rehab that this person went through.

Yeah = you saw a once in a millon occurance. Your father/mother/whatever - had a trach, a g-tube, is non -vocal, had a Stage 4 ulcer, is hoyer lift and probably does not even know they are still on the planet Earth. They ain't "waking up" anytime soon - no matter what you say on Oprah/Maury/whatever...

I'm against Dr. Phil. He can put the most serious mental disease on his show and in less than 1 hour cure it. Not matter if it is a little school nervousness to full blown crippling anxiety.

[CompleteUnknown]

The irony of all of this is that it's what we said we wanted. We said we didn't think it was right for the health care professionals to make their pronouncements and expect patients to just accept it without any questions as if it was the only truth and the only possible course of action. We said we wanted them be a partner in their care. We said we wanted them to be the ones who made the decisions. Well, now they are!

Don't worry, I find it as irritating as everybody else does. I just think we have to be careful what we wish for.

Anyway, I really wanted to say that every time I see this thread I think it says 'well-trained' not 'web-trained' and, every time, I fleetingly think 'well-trained patients? what are they??' Lol. I'm losing it I think! :uhoh21:

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Commonly-asked question every time I hand over a script for a med the MD wants them to start? "Does this have any side effects?"

Well, yes, every single medication has side effects. Ever read an aspirin bottle? But it's incredibly common for patients to want a drug that has NO possible side effects. 100% perfect in every way.

Better yet, they want to take some "natural" supplement that their friend takes, or they saw online, or was mentioned on "Dr. Oz" or "The Doctors," because natural automatically means safe, with no side effects.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Of course, there is the flip side to this.

I have a not-really-rare but not-really-heard-off-either medical conditon. I know more about my medical condition than most people - including MDs. So if I tell nurses/MDs what I need, I hope they will listen! It is a fine line sometimes.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Knowing about your own medical condition is a far cry from being a lay person thinking they know everything because they saw a segment on Dr. Oz.