The Difficult Patient Demystified

Over the years, many studies have examined the ‘difficult' patient encounter. Consistently, these studies indicate that physicians deem nearly 1 in 6 outpatient appointments to be an arduous visit. These challenging episodes are often time-consuming and may also lead to adverse outcomes. Though it is unfair to look at all difficult visits in the same light, there are trends to suggest certain patients and certain physicians are more likely to be involved. What are these trends, and how might this knowledge allow us to better navigate these situations? Dr. Basil Clyman, clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and staff physician at the VA Healthcare Center in West Los Angeles, visits with host Dr. Jennifer Shu to share his insights on turning a difficult encounter into a positive doctor-patient experience.