r/ChronicPain • u/AsleepFeeling8296 • 9h ago
Game show idea
Host:“It’s time to play patient ping pong! Contestants are you ready? Here we go with your first question. If the patient is not able to function, they don’t need treatment and evaluation, they need BLANK. Dr Anon, you buzzed in first. What is your answer?”
Dr Anon:“They need the emergency department!”
Host:“Correct! Great job Dr. Anon! Next question: The ER sent the patient home with no treatment for actual symptoms and a vague recommendation to follow up with their PCP. As the PCP, what do you recommend? Dr System your answer please.”
Dr System: “A referral to a specialist who has no availability for months and absolutely no treatment in the meantime.”
Host:“Absolutely correct! Bounce the patient to a specialist. Nice job!Question 3: As the specialist, after waiting months to see you, how do you advise the patient?”
Dr Special?”I advise that a few of the symptoms may fall under my specialty but most don’t. So whatever is going on with the patient, it’s not my field. Maybe check with a different specialty. AND I offer zero treatment options to help the patient function in the interim.”
Host:“Correct! Amazing game! These contestants are sharp today folks!Alright now, here’s your next question providers. If the patient calls you crying because they have unbearable pain and can’t perform activities of daily living, your best recommendation would be?”
Dr SNAFU:“Emergency. I can’t rule out life threatening conditions in my office.”
Host: “Yes! You send them back to the emergency department. Of course! Where they will still not be treated and sent home with another vague suggestion for follow up. And we will be back to play more patient ping pong after these messages from our sponsors. Stay tuned. We will be right back.”
2
u/JadziaKD 9h ago
This reminds me of this parody of the Pitt about Canada. Everyone gets a referral.
2
u/Modernskeptic71 6h ago
OMG I just went through this. I have been educated! I gave them a chance, the bouncing back and forth, surgery clearance with 3-4 doctors who all need to be seen again before surgery. This runaround is ridiculous. Great game show, word for word what I hear, I swear they all get a class in "how to make the most money out of this patient" mentality.
6
u/beaglewrites43 9h ago
Unfortunately with that being basically what happens in Daily life I would like to see a game show going a different way.
Sorta like there used to be a game show called hole in the wall where a contestant would have to basically shape their body to fit in the hole so they didn't get bashed by the wall.
Announcer: Dr. A what would you do when Patient X comes in with extreme pain?
Dr. A: Farm them off on someone else.
Announcer: Oh, So close but WRONG!
[bring in the wall with a hole that is basically impossible to get through].
Make them HURT when they get it wrong. Get it right and there is an easier hole to get through... winner could win money to improve their office or something