topic Re: Dr. Visit question in Wellness

Dr. Visit question

SeaMaiden — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:23:41 GMT

I was listening to Drs Radio on Sirius FM this morning and they were saying you should always ask the nurse and/or Dr when they come in the room if they washed their hands.

I know I need to speak up for myself, but I just feel uncomfortable asking this question. Today with all the germs spread, it is a question we all should ask.

Do YOU ask if your Dr and nurse have washed their hands prior to entering the room?

I will Need to work on this and ask my next visit if I can gather the strength

. I know my Husband would NEVER ask his Dr. That is just him....

Re: Dr. Visit question

lolakimono — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:26:14 GMT

@SeaMaiden

Mine usually wash theirs in front of me at the sink in the examining room.

Re: Dr. Visit question

BirkiLady — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:29:36 GMT

All of my physicians wash their hands after seeing the patient prior to me. It's a given. When they are finished with my visit, they also wash their hands again before going to the next patient.

Pay attention to your physician's routines and you'll know. There won't be the uncomfortable question needed.

Re: Dr. Visit question

gizmogal — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:43:16 GMT

@lolakimono wrote:
@SeaMaiden
Mine usually wash theirs in front of me at the sink in the examining room.

Ditto. My doc, and any staff who touch me, wash their hands in front of me in the exam room. And they all wear examining gloves when doing anything “invasive” like drawing blood.

If I had to ask, I’d phrase it as “you’ve just washed your hands, right?” Or you could say “l hope I’m not insulting you if I ask if you’ve washed your hands”. Any doctor will acknowledge clean hands as a fact or respect your reason for asking, and will not react defensively. It is likely your doctor, if asked once, will remember to reassure you of it the next time. You won’t have to ask every time.

If your doctor is huffy about it, you need to think about arrogance and disrespect in his practice as much as dirty hands. Doctors who cannot answer patient questions and expectations without attitude will also miss things or not admit errors. Then they are not good doctors.

Remember, you are hiring this practitioner to attend to your health and you have choices. Express yourself and he’ll understand and meet your needs.

Re: Dr. Visit question

mimomof4 — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:45:40 GMT

@lolakimono wrote:
@SeaMaiden
Mine usually wash theirs in front of me at the sink in the examining room.

This has also been my experience with my PC and kids Pediatrician. However the medical assistants who perform the weight, measures, blood pressure etc do not. That makes me think now that you mentioned it @SeaMaiden.

Re: Dr. Visit question

Bri369 — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:50:51 GMT

Mine always wash their hands when they come into the room.

When they're done, they wash their hands before they leave. So they're actually washing their hands twice...

Re: Dr. Visit question

PamfromCT — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:02:44 GMT

On the same topic of concern, if one calls my doctor’s office with a bad cold or other like symptoms, you will be told you must agree to wear a face mask when you enter the waiting room before your appointment.

Re: Dr. Visit question

dex — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:02:56 GMT

@SeaMaiden @I am like you uncomfortable with that question....but I ask myself this should I risk my life so I don’t upset,inconvenience or embarrass the docror?

Re: Dr. Visit question

MomCat — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:19:12 GMT

The doctors I've gone to, and their staff, usually take care of hand cleansing in front of me. Even my eye doctor hits the hand sanitizer before he even shakes hands with me. If I had any doubt that these people were not doing everything possible to not spread germs, I wouldn't be going there.

Re: Dr. Visit question

Lucky Charm — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:41:50 GMT

I think I get more skeeved out at the dentist. Seriously.

I just had the Xrays done. She assembles or whatever to put those darn things in your mouth, with her hands in your mouth. Of course, she has clean gloves on the whole time. Fine.

But then she leaves and hits that switch. !!!

So my mouth germs are now on that switch, the last person's mouth germs are on that switch. Everybody's mouth germs are on that switch.

Same for the over head light.

I know they wipe everything down, but do they always wipe the handle when they manuever the light around and then go poking around in your mouth? Probably not.

And when they are examining your teeth and gums, of course everything is on a computer. So they are hitting the keyboard with gloves on.

But my mouth germs are on that keyboard now and so are everyone else's. !!!

Stuff like that just skeeves me out. That's directly going in to your mouth. Whatever hasn't been wiped down, autoclaved or otherwise sterilized.

Re: Dr. Visit question

qbetzforreal — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:10:53 GMT

No, my doctors and dentist automatically wash their hands.

Re: Dr. Visit question

BirkiLady — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:49:58 GMT

@Lucky Charm You brought up a really good point about the switches. I'm going to pay close attention next week when I have my teeth cleaned! And, I'll ask questions if it looks unsanitary in any way. Hope it doesn't, but if I do ask questions I'll report back next week.

Re: Dr. Visit question

NicksmomESQ — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:55:12 GMT

All the doctors I’ve been to always wash their hands in front of me.

Re: Dr. Visit question

software — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:20:43 GMT

I was pleasantly surprised recently when a doctor wiped off the end of the stethoscope (diaphram?) with an alcohol wipe before placing it on my chest.

I agree with @Lucky Charm it was always the random stuff that gives me pause, like a BP cuff. Most of the time it's placed over clothing but not every time

Re: Dr. Visit question

hckynut — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:24:59 GMT

@SeaMaiden

I am one that has no issue of speaking up when I feel it is necessary. Also not someone that sees germs in every thing that is around me.

No, I personally do not see the purpose of asking that question. I trust those whom I see for medical purposes do what is deemed necessary and follow the correct medical protocols.

hckynut

Re: Dr. Visit question

Nightowlz — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:49:05 GMT

My doctor always walked in the door wiping his hands together with that hand sanitizer which IMO is not enough. They should be washing their hands when they come in so you can see it. You should not have to ask but you do.

If I was in the hospital you can bet I would be asking. I'm sure they don't like it.

My dads 2nd wife died of MRSA in the hospital because the staff was not washing their hands like they should.

Re: Dr. Visit question

Nightowlz — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:53:34 GMT

@PamfromCT wrote:
On the same topic of concern, if one calls my doctor’s office with a bad cold or other like symptoms, you will be told you must agree to wear a face mask when you enter the waiting room before your appointment.

@PamfromCT

They have that sign on the window when you check in at our doctors office. I have seen several wearing them. If I have to see the doctor & they are sick enough to wear those I will wait in the lobby for my appt. They can text me. I'm not sitting in a room full of sick people.

Re: Dr. Visit question

Nightowlz — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:55:46 GMT

@MomCat wrote:
The doctors I've gone to, and their staff, usually take care of hand cleansing in front of me. Even my eye doctor hits the hand sanitizer before he even shakes hands with me. If I had any doubt that these people were not doing everything possible to not spread germs, I wouldn't be going there.

@MomCat

They always want to shake your hand I hate doing that. You know they have touched every sick patient that has been in that day. When I'm finished I go straight to the bathroom & wash my hands. I use my shirt to open the door so I don't pick up any germs on my way out. I wash my hands again when I get home.

Re: Dr. Visit question

Nightowlz — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 17:00:10 GMT

@Lucky Charm wrote:
I think I get more skeeved out at the dentist. Seriously.

I just had the Xrays done. She assembles or whatever to put those darn things in your mouth, with her hands in your mouth. Of course, she has clean gloves on the whole time. Fine.

But then she leaves and hits that switch. !!!

So my mouth germs are now on that switch, the last person's mouth germs are on that switch. Everybody's mouth germs are on that switch.

Same for the over head light.

I know they wipe everything down, but do they always wipe the handle when they manuever the light around and then go poking around in your mouth? Probably not.

And when they are examining your teeth and gums, of course everything is on a computer. So they are hitting the keyboard with gloves on.

But my mouth germs are on that keyboard now and so are everyone else's. !!!

Stuff like that just skeeves me out. That's directly going in to your mouth. Whatever hasn't been wiped down, autoclaved or otherwise sterilized.

@Lucky Charm

Sounds like you think like I do. LOL!!!

Same thing happens when you go out to eat or get fast food. Most don't have a clue why they are wearing those gloves. Kids asked why they are wearing them said to keep my hands clean. That would be a big fat NO. I'm surprised more people do not get sick eating from fast food restaurants. I have seen them frying burgers with gloves on only to come up to get payment for food & go back to cooking after touching all that dirty money with the same gloves on. GROSS!!!

Re: Dr. Visit question

chrystaltree — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 19:07:36 GMT

I don't have to ask. There's a sink in every exam room and all the doctors I see, and I see a lot, all go over to the sink and wash their hands when they enter the room. Depending on what they are doing, they put gloves on. However, all my doctors are in the same group practice that has a couple of hundred physcians so when it comes to such things, they think more like hospitals.