Audiology 2019
F I R S T P L A CE Kristin Koch, AuD Evolution Hearing Charlottesville | 434.260.8007 www.evolutionhearing.com
S E C O N D P L A CE Tammy Garber, AuD Hearing Health Associates Charlottesville | 434.205.4207 www.hearinghealthassoc.com
T HIR D P L A CE Julie Farrar-Hersch, PhD, CCC/A Augusta Audiology Associates, PC Fishersville | 540.932.5790 www.augustaaudiology.com
HONO R A B L E M E N TI ON Karen Klotz, HIS Virginia Hearing Group Verona | 540.248.1670 www.virginiahearinggroup.com Dawn Cooper, AuD, CCC-A Rivanna Hearing Center Charlottesville | 434.244.3277 www.rivannahearingcenter.com
Join Us in Congratulating The Winners OF THE
Best Bedside Manner Awards!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22
Good Bedside Manner Doesn’t Mean Coddling Many patients will come into the exam room with a range of negative emotions. They might be upset about their diagnosis — fearful of what’s to come or frustrated by the thought that they have to change their lifestyle.
“Nobody goes to a doctor or medical provider without being in need. When they’re coming in, they’re already stimulated with emotion.” – Keith A. McCurdy, EDS, LPC, LMFT
McCurdy explains that doctors and medical providers should acknowledge their patient’s emotion — even in situations where the emotion seems overblown — so they can then lay the groundwork for moving onto a solution. “Don’t fight the emotion of where they are,” McCurdy says. “When we can acknowledge the way they feel, it’s like letting air out of an overinflated tire.” In other situations, patients might be disappointed that there isn’t a miracle cure they were hoping for, such as pills and other pharmaceuticals that are perceived to be the sole solution. Doctors and medical providers should be prepared for this. “How many people feel they failed if they don’t leave the doctor with a prescription for an antibiotic?” McCurdy poses rhetorically. He says this is especially true in the field of pediatrics, when parents can get frustrated that not enough is being done to help their sick child. “That’s the mindset we have today, that everything should be solved, everything should have a quick fix, rather than accepting that sometimes, life is messy,” McCurdy continues. “We need to learn to be OK and have hope in the midst of life being messy. That’s a tough thing.” In these situations, McCurdy says it’s important that doctors and providers empower their patients to overcome hardships related to their health. The challenge, however, is that contemporary society doesn’t view struggle as a normal part of life the way people viewed struggle, say, 50 years ago. “We’ve changed our perception so that when we’re facing normal rigors of life, we view those as really negative,” he says. “When we suffer something traumatic, we feel completely helpless and hopeless.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 29 www.OurHealthCharlottesville.com
25