Re: client v patient

Re: client v patient

John MacGregor

I find the discussion of Patient v. Client very interesting because I have
struggled with this very problem for a long time. Many, many years ago I was
taught that the people I served were my Patients. O.K., so they were, and
that's how I referred to them. Then a Patient mentioned to me that these
people were really my Clients. I don't think this Client was offended, but
her reasoning seemed sound (I'm not a Dr. she said)so I had Clients for many
years. No one has ever objected to being called a Client,at least as far as
I know, but it did seem a little impersonal to me.

A few years ago I hired a new P & O grad. from the university and he told me
that he was taught that my Clients were actually my Patients and he gave me
all the reasons we've read in this discussion. Already I like what I hear.
It's nice to have Patients(actually its nice to have lots of Patients, but
thats another story). To further my point, I discussed this matter with my
wife, a Medical Doctor, and she also thought I had patients. So I thought to
myself, Why do some people get offended at silly terms, I would never do
that. Afterall, we should be taking care of patients and clients the same.
So what's a word?

Then I was reading a recent accounting spread sheet for our facility and I
came across the term TOTAL STORE SALES. WAIT A DAMN MINUTE, he just called
our Prosthetic & Orthotic Facility A STORE!

Now I'm offended and confused at the same time.

John MacGregor C.P.


>From: Marcus Boren Resident < <Email Address Redacted> >
>Reply-To: <Email Address Redacted>
>To: <Email Address Redacted>
>Subject: client v patient
>Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 01:07:16 GMT
>
>As an amputee prosthetist, I can see both sides of this issue, and
>really don't see what all the fuss is about.
>
>Of course our customers/clients/patients have a choice in who
>provides their care. This applies to physicians, PTs, nursing homes,
>hospitals, CPs, COs, and occasionally even Sears.
>
>I have always considered myself to be a patient of the physician, and
>ANY person who works under their orders. This includes nurses, PTs,
>etc., and you are always free to tell them that you want someone else.
>
>
>Of course the prosthetics profession sells devices, but it is also
>our duty to evaluate physical condition, make recomendations, and educate
>the patient, et al., in what to do with it.
>
>If anybody has bothered to look up the original meaning of the word
>'doctor', they will find that it means 'teacher'.
>
>Therefore, for anyone who knows all the answers, and simply wants to
>buy a leg, I think I saw one in a REALLY OLD Sears catalog. Nice people
>there too, they never have to deal with insurance companies, edema,
>neuromas, urine, senility, daily visits to your future nursing home,
>medicare, schedules, bad debt, weekend hospital calls, or 7-9 years of
>formal education to do their jobs. They will even let you put it on your
>card for a modest 21% rate.
>
>Prosthetists cannot afford to treat people with the cold efficiency of a
>mechanic or department store. If you feel like a client, you need to find
>someone who cares enough to treat you like a patient. This is true for the
>patients of all medical professions.
>
>Marcus Boren
>Prosthetic Resident
>
>