Introducing MPE

Don’t worry; it’s not another government program.

In my alternate life as a private pilot, I often get to read those trade publications. Many have columns devoted to stories about flying incidents, some humorous, some tragic, yet all seem to impart lessons we pilots need to consider.

Here at Ophthalmology Management, we decided recently to take our own spin on that concept with a new column titled, “Memorable Patient Encounters”. The idea is to showcase interesting, unusual, surprising, even humorous incidents that have happened in the practice of ophthalmology. Some might be educational, reminding us all that, in working with and for other human beings, what we say can be misconstrued. Some might just be downright funny, and others will likely be a combination of both.

Take our first column, for example. David Litchford, MD (a fellow Tennessean, I might add) writes about an incident during a time when general anesthesia was the only pain-control game in town. Cataract surgeons had to hospitalize their patients — and young surgeons dealt with the aftereffects of both.

I cracked up when I read his story — I think you will too.

GOT MATERIAL?

But, before you turn to page 60, a plea for help: actually, we want your memories. Talk among your doctors and staff and ask everyone to think hard about those moments, and send them in. (An e-mail address is at the bottom of Dr. Litchford’s story.)

Stories like this one from Cory Bosanko, an optometrist at our center …

Dr. Bosanko had examined an 11-year-old who had an unfortunate experience three years prior of being shot in one eye with a BB gun, which left him with 20/400 vision. Our doctor carefully explained to the patient and his mother about how important it was for the boy to wear the prescribed polycarbonate lenses as a protective mechanism for his other eye.

That three-year-old accident must have affected some gray matter as well. When the young boy arrived home, he put on the new safety glasses, took his BB gun out, and aimed the gun at his good eye … and fired. He excitedly brought the glasses to his mother and showed them to her. “Look, Ma! The doctor was right. These glasses didn’t shatter!” OM