PGIMER to train resident doctors on behaviour towards patients

Chandigarh: Patient feedback on uncouth services rendered by the institute’s junior residents to them has resulted in PGIMER going in for a training program on ‘behavior towards patients’ for them. 20 percent of the patients in the survey conducted expressed dissatisfaction with the institute’s services during the survey. Of those dissatisfied, the maximum number said staff behavior was the principal reason.

Resident doctors at PGIMER will soon have to attend classes to improve their behavior. A group of senior doctors has been assigned the task of teaching the residents about how to deal with patients properly and also formulate guidelines to improve the behavior of doctors towards the attended patients at north India’s premier medical healthcare facility.

Sources told the Indian Express that PGI Director, Professor Jagat Ram has approved of a Committee, under the Chairmanship of emeritus PGI professor/ophthalmologist, Dr Amod Gupta which would hold orientation classes for resident doctors. The decision to hold behavior improvement classes was taken on having been flooded with patient complaints of bad behavior by resident doctors, said a senior PGI official on Monday.

Jagat Ram confirmed that a committee had been formed. “We have added experienced doctors in the committee. Their job will be to provide orientation classes to the resident doctors on how to deal with patients properly. The step has been taken to improve the satisfaction of patients,” he told Indian Express.

Reports from the Union Health Ministry about the patient feedback system, in Mera Aspataal, also revealed that doctor’ behavior is the main reason for patient dissatisfaction at PGIMER. with the services of PGIMER.

Doctors at PGI however blame patient rush for them sometimes losing their cool. with the patients. “No doctor would ever want to speak with a patient in a harsh tone. But sometimes, because of the huge rush of patients, a doctor may speak harshly. One has to understand that we are also humans and sometimes things go out of control…see the number of patients who come to OPD on daily basis and then the doctor-patient ratio as well,” said Dr Sandeep Tula, Vice-President of the Association of Resident Doctors at PGI. “There should be a system for doctors to give a feedback,” he told the Indian Express.

Last year, the issue was discussed at a meeting of the PGI’s hospital management board and a sensitization program for resident doctors planned.