Larry Benz PT DPT OCS MBA MAPP talks to Dr. Justin Trosclair, DC on A Doctor's Perspective Podcast

Go beyond empathy in connecting with your patients and learn about biopsychosocial aspects, positive psychology and even using placebo to your and the patients benefit. Also find ways to avoid burnout with physical therapist Dr. Larry Benz.

Dr. Larry Benz, PT DPT OCS MBA MAPP has just a ton of educational experience and degrees. He also teaches, has a private clinics, handles continuing education across the USA, wrote a book, is a veteran, has an organization in Haiti and his passion for physical therapy has no end in sight.

Today we focus on the PsychoSocial factor of physical therapy.

We also discuss the impact Doctor Empathy and Communication with the patient has on their outcomes.

Therapeutic Alliance, Bed Side Manner - what role do these play?

Bio-Psycho-Social Attributes were aspects covered in his Masters of Applied Positive Psychology Degree. The capstone project is what led to his book Called to Care. Topics like: research on empathy, compassion, what is a high quality connection, goal setting for patient care, peak end effect lead to, placebo and Nocebo effects and capitalization.

How to reduce your own burnout?

The care and outcome is better - better EQ the outcomesBusiness gets better as well

Is Dehumanization and Burnout the Same thing?

How does the term Calcification play in and can it set in a little each day or is it all encompassing.

Besides the PQRSST piece of the exam (who, what, when. why), how many of us ask How the patient is Feeling about the scenario. What is their truth with their situation and how it affects them and their life?

BODY LANGUAGE is important: tone of voice, facial expressions and body movements.

With a telehealth visit the doctor can lose at least 2 of these with the patient. That means the patient doesn’t since the empathy from you and clinical outcomes may be less.

Excessive documentationThe number one complaint is that it robs the patient of actual practitioner time. Too much is spent clicking buttons or dictating notes. Too much documentation is number one reason for physician burnout by the way.

What role does Placebo play for the patient? Should we use it more and how can we?

In trying to get students to retain more information, you can even tell them that a placebo is happening and it will still get them to retain more than if it wasn’t mentioned at all or no unknown placebo was in place.

Positive words and the way you set up positive parameters of outcomes can play a huge way to get an ethical placebo effect.

Nocebo Effect: if you tell people it will hurt, then it will actually make it hurt more. A percent of people will get those negative effects only because you mentioned them.

Keep a relationship healthy by creating Novelty (curiosity) and watching your Cognitive Biases (the stories you tell yourself about things aka don’t be judgemental).Process improvements ; like excessive documentation, regulations, and a variety of other hoops and ladders have replaced time spent with patients.

An emphasis on kind, compassionate care will give you and your practice a differentiation in the marketplace that converts to market share and profitability. 

 For more information, please visit PThelpforHaiti.org and CalledtoCarebook.com.

BOOKS:

Dr. William R.