Letters
Out-Dated Drug-Rep Dress
I had to laugh out loud when I saw the cover of the most recent journal picturing the drug rep (October, “The Drug Rep Debate”). I took the magazine to my partner and asked him, “When was the last time you saw a female drug rep dressed like this?” In my experience, the skirts are a lot shorter and blouses are cut a lot lower. Perhaps it would have been a bit too racy or sexist to have split the image in half and have the clothing mimic the halo and horns, but doing that would have reflected the reality today.
Personally, I do not spend time in our clinic with drug reps, as I feel there are better and more efficient ways to get good drug information … without making me blush or feel uncomfortable.
Drew Hoffmann, M.D.
Willmar
We Can Do More than Assume the Worst
The article by Dr. Bradley Hernandez in your October issue (“Don’t Assume the Worst,” p. 38) regarding the difficulty presented by patients seeking narcotic medications for the relief of what are thought to be chronic pain problems caught my attention. I have been working in urgent care for the past five years after 22 years of practicing family medicine. Although Dr. Hernandez does a nice job of outlining the conundrum of patients presenting with pain complaints and requesting narcotic medication, I thought he missed some important issues.
He makes a passing reference to the fact that some patients use prescribed narcotics to raise money to fund an addiction to illicit drugs, but he does not mention the national concern regarding the increasing rate of death from overdose, often unintentional, from prescribed narcotics. I would submit that the stakes are higher than he suggests.
Beyond that, his proposed solution to the problem (give them the benefit of the doubt) is inadequate. I would propose that there are rational ways to approach the narcotic-seeking patient that can guide a physician in the decision process.
G. David Spoelhof, M.D.
Duluth
Home Care Can Reduce Readmissions
I read with interest the articles in your September issue, including the story about reducing hospital readmissions “Slowing the Revolving Door” (p. 24). This is my first time reading your magazine, and I salute you on the wide variety of subjects you address.
I have a comment, however, about the article. Although it presented many ways to help reduce readmissions, nowhere did it mention using home care services. As a home care nurse, I know much can be learned from meeting these patients on their turf, so to speak, and that home care nurses can help them comply with their care plans and discharge directions. I would hope that hospital staff, including physicians, would consider this option when making discharge plans.
Susan Nelson, B.S.N., R.N.
Redwood Falls
Thanks for the Respect
I read the excellent article on chaplaincy services (“Body and Soul” p. 12) in the September issue of Minnesota Medicine and was delighted. I’d like to express my appreciation for how the MMA has valued and represented the role of chaplains in health care. The mutual regard and respect among our disciplines have been very evident to me as I participated in the MMA’s Physician Wellness retreat and served on the well-being taskforce this year; that spirit of collegiality has been reinforced many times over, especially as represented in this most recent publication.
Rev. Bradley J. Skogen, BCC
Chaplain, Lake Region Healthcare
Fergus Falls