Pamela Q. Fernandes's Blog, page 32

QMC 10 – Vaccination or no Vaccination

Dr RD wants me to make a case for vaccination.

“I’m a pediatrician. I have a couple of parents who want to delay polio vaccination indefinitely. It’s freaking me out, because there’s no reasoning with them. I’ve explained to them that they’re putting thousands of children at risk. But they refuse to budge. I mean come on, we just eliminated polio last year. It took us over 60 years. I don’t want to be the doctor whose negligent care brings polio back to this country. Please help me!”

I have to admit I had a good chuckle at this doctor’s expense. It almost sounds like he wants to pull his hair out, if he hasn’t gone bald already.

My Tips for Writing a Synopsis

The dreaded synopsis. A few days ago I had to write a synopsis for a proposal. This wasn’t the one page synopsis that you count each word and have to fit it in two pages. This is the long form where you provide a chapter by chapter breakdown of the entire book. But, it’s not a chapter outline.

Writing my synopsis with my cuppa!

And I went through plenty of sites to write my own synopsis for a book that I’d written only three chapters to.

So this is how I went about it.

1.Lose the dread

I saw it as a job that had to be done because it had to be. There was no reason to fear it. The synopsis had to be submitted by the deadline date, I had no choice. The pressure forced me to park my gluteus in my chair.  Besides, once I started writing it I found I was creating the rest of the story or outline and I enjoyed the whole process . I think a long synopsis is a great map before you draft a novel.

2. Sort the tense and voice

I read extensively for advise. One of the best posts came from Jane Friedman. In her Back to basics post,  she says, “Synopses should usually be written in active voice, third person, present tense (even if your novel is written in first person)” So I kept this front and center while I wrote, because by page four or five it was very easy to slip into the voice and tense of my book.

3. Don’t sweat the first draft

I knew at the back of my mind that my first draft was not going to be perfect, no matter how many times I checked the work. You don’t see the whole picture, until everything is knit together. So I just kept writing.  Once I rid myself of the perfection bug, my focus was on banging out the synopsis.

4. Read the Chapters

I read my chapters fully. At the end of the chapter, I thought of the turning points. What’s enfolding? What’s changing? Who’s changing? Where’s the main focus? What emotions were involved. I then wrote one paragraph on this chapter. Just one.

5. Don’t worry about the length

For proposals, the length is always five pages and up.  I believe five pages for every 100 pages. Don’t quote me on that.

6. Stick to two characters

I was writing this for a romance, so I just stuck with two characters, the main protagonists. If you have too many, then tying in the plot lines for each and keeping track of them in a synopsis, will make it too bulky and tedious.

7. There’s no need for dialogue and backstory

Yup. No he said, she said here. I weaved in some backstory, very little just to ground the editor. My story was set in a very cold Canadian town. But otherwise I didn’t add that in.

8. More telling, less showing

I had to tell what was going on. I wasn’t writing the story, but trying to entice with a brief. This was not the time to get verbose on prose.  So tell, don’t show.

9. Add flavor

After I finished the first draft, I read it and added some flavor.  A few descriptive words, romantic, seductive, daring etc. This was again to describe the characters and give them little details to make them more realistic.

10. Sum it up

After reading it again. I set it aside and re-read. Edit it down. Because even for five pages or ten, there’s stuff that’s not important. Read the beats in your synopsis. Does something stick out. For example I was pitching paranormal romance, suddenly a subplot showed up which is not part of the main plot line. I had to take it out. Rinsed and repeated till I could do no more and hit send.

Fingers crossed I can make the cut.

As you see I didn’t make it very complicated. You’ll read about beat sheets, plot lines, climaxes and all other stuff on the net.

The most important things is to tell you story in such a way that your editor says, ‘I want this.’

There’s no perfect way and the more you read online, the more complicated it gets. Writing a synopsis is not complicated. Once you’ve won the battle in your mind, you’ve won writing the synopsis altogether.

In other news, you must have read that my speculative fiction, “Naiads of Pegae ” has sold to Fantasia Divinity magazine. Also “The Milanese stars,” which I had been asked to revise and resubmit was sold to picked up by Touchpoint Press.

 

The post My Tips for Writing a Synopsis appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

QMC 10- Med Reps: Are they worth the time in a busy practice?

Question from Dr. Y, C. “I spend long hours at the clinic and then a harrowing day at wards before clinics again. Imagine when after clinics I have a queue of thirty odd med reps, vying for my attention. I spend an additional forty minutes listening and honestly most of the time just shaking my head without processing anything. Is this exercise even worth it?”

I love this question. Depending on where you are and how you were trained is affects how you see med reps.  If you were taught to be suspicious of them or see them as guys who will force you to sell more drugs etc, then that’s probably why you feel this way about them.

Doctor’s office

When I went to AU, med reps were introduced to us as soon as we were in clinics. So third year and up. We had already started dealing with them as medical students. What came across to us from our residents was that they were part of our education. The pharma companies do contribute significantly to medicine.

So let me tell you first what med reps are responsible for OTHER than selling medicines.

-Educating you about new molecules or changes in molecules.

-Creating brand awareness

-Giving you therapeutic insight into something that was not known before

-Highlighting a current gap in treatment and a new treatment that could fill it

-Teaching you how to prescribe and dose/ bio-availability

Let’s be honest. There are thousands of drugs out there. No doctor can keep up with every changing molecule or drug composition. It’s just not possible. Most pharma companies look to the market for post marketing adverse effect reporting/ surveillance. If there is a new development, strategy, side effect or better dosing technique, who better than the pharma companies to actually disseminate this information. With this background let me explain my own strategy of dealing with med reps.

1.Build Trust

This is a symbiotic relationship. You need med reps to keep you abreast of the changing molecules. They need you to chase sales. As an addendum to this, don’t trust them fully. Once a particular composition piques your interest don’t blindly trust everything they have to say. Sometimes data can be fuzzed and the lines do get blurred. So make a written note, go home and as part of your daily medical reading, glance through the evidence supporting what your med reps says.

2. Find the Passionate One

In every group of med reps, there will be a handful who are really passionate about the job they do. They’re not just pushing numbers or chasing a target. They know the market, they understand where their product stands, they know the pros and cons and they will say so. This is the guy who’ll give this drug to his own mother. Spot these guys and build a relationship with them. Allot a day or time when they can come in separately and pitch.  This is mutually beneficial. The med reps then repays you by providing your practice with beneficial news, or drug discounts or even future developments about new products. He may also invest more time in learning and studying your market to get you the best deal.

3. Take notes

You won’t remember everything, as rep after rep rattles on. Active listening will get you to learn more. So write down somethings that interest you. For me sometimes it may not be the molecule, it may be the way it’s pronounced or if the dosing is less, I’m quick to jot it down. Some times it’s just the way the drug’s packaged that attracts my interest.

4. Treat it like a CME

If you’re going to sit wondering what your wife’s cooking for dinner while the med rep is flipping his chart, then this whole exercise is fruitless. You might as well pack his and your bags and simply go home.  This is an opportunity to soak up as much information as you can. Ask questions. If your rep goes on and on about bio-availability  when it’s not much different from the competitors, you jump in and ask the tough questions, “But what’s the cost?” Once you ask questions and show interest, they will tailor their presentation to your needs. For me cost is the most thing for my patients. It’s the first thing I want to know, because my patients are not swimming in money. Now med reps with a more expensive drug don’t waste my time showing me what I will never prescribe to my patients.

5. Don’t get greedy

The AMA is quite strict about this. They’ve banned all sorts of gifts from pharma. If its a medical textbook or stationary, it’s fine. But don’t accept anything other than that. Once you do, there’s always payback.

6. Encourage free samples

And don’t take them home.I like free samples before I can prescribe. Because it helps me test out the drug in a small sample group before taking it further to a wider market. Don’t take them home and give it to your relatives. Let me explain, samples for new compositions or updated molecules are to help with the post marketing surveillance. If you’re aunt swallows up all the samples, how are you going to know if the side effects (if any) are applicable to a larger group or simply a one off event.

7. Don’t dress them down

If you’ve had a particularly difficult day at the wards, then it’s pretty easy to spew venom on the med reps. But if you  remotely feel there is chance of this happening, simply postpone their visit for another day. Tell them what happened and why you can’t see them. They will appreciate it.  Remember they’re doing their job like everyone else. They’re not hired to be your punching bag.

8. No one can force you to make a sale

Always remember that you prescribe what you think is best as long as you’ve not accepted extravagant gifts or perks from pharma. Let me warn you that pharma companies have tie ups with pharmacies and vendors to study your prescribing habits. They pay to get this data. They will tailor their marketing program and train their med reps better to convince you their drugs are superior. NO ONE can force you to prescribe an inferior drug.

How do you deal with med reps? Do you have a strategy?

 

 

 

 

 

The post QMC 10- Med Reps: Are they worth the time in a busy practice? appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

Episode 7- Spotlight on Paul, the Apostle

Nobody is beyond Redemption.

We’re starting a new series on The Christian Circle Podcast. It’s a series on saints. There’s plenty to learn from them. Let’s face it, all of us are striving to be saints and who better to learn from? While we will steer clear of the controversies, our main focus will be their ministries. We hope you enjoy this series in addition to our regular podcasts.

In this episode, Pamela talks to Charles Johnston (nowthatimcatholic.wordpress.com) about the life of Paul the Apostle. Charles has been on the show before.  And since many of you loved his show, we decided to ask to join us in making this series.

Charles shares about zealous Paul’s Jewish background. He also talks about Paul’s turning point on the road to Damascus, how we can emulate the apostle and what major lessons can be learned form Paul’s ministry.

 

He highlights a few things about Here’s the show:

1.Paul’s teachers and his education

2. Why Paul’s conversion became such a great conversion story

3. His effectiveness in ministry and the period of waiting.

4. Lessons for all of us from his life

5. Literature sources and where you can read more about Paul, the Apostle.

In addition to Souncloud, we’re on Itunes, Stitcher and Tunein radio.

Show notes:

We’ve created a presentation that you could use. It also contains Caravaggio’s famous painting of Saul’s conversion.

For show notes just click on CC option of YouTube and you should be able to read the entire show.

 

Do like us and share this podcast with your friends. Let us know what you think. You can always tell us what you like or don’t like. Or if you want to listen about a particular subject or issue or even if you have a favorite saint that you would like to hear about, let me know. Your feedback means a lot to us.

The post Episode 7- Spotlight on Paul, the Apostle appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

Book Trailer: Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman & Free Calendar

My Book Trailer is here!

I’m sooooo excited. As you can tell, I’m very happy. This weekend, my book trailer got ready. Thanks to Martins Godainis for this awesome trailer. For my new readers, let me tell you. Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman will be out on July 6th. This is my second book in the Ten Reminder Series.

Tell me what you think. Your feedback is invaluable to me. You know I’ve created my own book trailer before. But this one is awesome! Speaking of book trailers, please share this trailer with every single Christian woman. The trailer itself, contains all the reminders so it could very encouraging to someone going through a hard time.

In order to celebrate the release of my trailer, I’ve made PDF calendars for the remainder of the year with messages from my book. So get your FREE CALENDAR 2017 and print it  to your specifications.

The post Book Trailer: Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman & Free Calendar appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

QMC-9 Bad Attitude among Doctors

Whoa! Bad attitude among doctors. Hot button issue.

I got a question from a very fresh doctor who hasn’t become jaded by medicine.  So he had this question. “I notice that many doctors, especially higher up in the hierarchy have very bad attitude. Almost to the point where they assume everyone is their slave. What gives? How do I make sure I don’t turn that way?”

Bad attitude by Doctors

Oh, you poor thing! Let me just say my piece before I give any advice. Doctors are a reflection of what they’ve imbibed. Many doctors who are rude to staff have themselves been the victims of bad teachers. Hence, they try to inflict on others the same. They don’t know any different.

Then, there are those who haven’t been much outside the four walls of their hospitals or gone beyond the pages of their textbooks. These are the ones who are petty. The small minded fools who treat their department as a mini fiefdom where all humanity serves to please them. These people are not well read, not well traveled and not well spoken.

That being said, I’ve worked with many wonderful doctors in NYC and South Mumbai who are the absolute best at what they do. They’re the cream of the crop and these physicians with a certain look, an air of command or even a subtle gesture invoke respect without belittling and bullying their subordinates. They are generous with their knowledge, succinct in their censure and respectful to all.

Don’t become these doctors with bad attitude by doing the following:

1.Find that wonderful example

Look for that particular specialist or doctor in your practice or hospital. The one who is well loved and respected. Observe him and learn. Emulate him. Neuroscience has proved that humans learn by modelling. So model or copy this hero. This physician, this humanist without the bad attitude. He is your teacher.

2. Your goal is your patient

People will make mistakes. The clerks will mess up, the interns will fumble, the nurses may slip up. It happens to the best of us on our worst days. But does chastising your staff in front of patients help them? Does treating any of the team like shit help your patient? Your goal is the patient. If your intern doesn’t know the BVAS Score don’t yell the corridor down. It’s not going to help your patient.

3. Foster teamwork.

Team work makes the dream work. I love this statement. Healthcare is a team effort. Multiple people come together to deliver it. To do so in an error free manner, the team has to gel with each other. Hospital errors are far more when physicians and nurses  have no rapport. This results in what I call a negative cycle.

Because it develops a kind of them versus us scenario, where the sisters are against the doctors, the interns are against whoever.  This in turn, creates bad attitude where the doctor then turns all his hate onto the nurses and staff.  Team work takes time. It takes frequent huddles, in person dialogue, communication and trust. Have potlucks, bowling competitions, picnics for the team to build rapport. Team building events does foster teamwork.

4. Build relationships.

As an extension to team work, build relationships. Get to know all the players on your team. If someone’s ankle hurts, try and reduce their standing time. If a nurse is slowed down, can you or someone else be assigned to give them a hand?  It’s not about saying hi and enjoying long conversations.

It’s about picking up the slack, helping someone through an off day,encouraging someone when they’ve made a mistake. It’s about showing that you’re there for your staff.  I find eating meals together also helps. I like shifts of meals. So two nurses and two residents go and eat together while the next batch then sits together, instead of all nurses or all residents lunch together. I find the latter usually devolves in gossip of the other group.

5. Don’t ignore opinions.

None of the people you work with are idiots, remember that.  Nurses, med techs, midwives, everyone have certain experiences and knowledge  about healthcare. You may not always agree with them. Sometimes there’s more to what they’re saying. After all, they’re on the floors all the time. They’re watching patients and families. I’m often surprised how many times my nurses have alerted me to something in the social structure of patient’s families which led to some important discovery.  Listen to them.

6. Remember your own humanity.

It’s very easy especially if you come from a doctor family, where your friends are doctors, their children are doctors, your neighbors are doctors and you’re in your tiny doctor world, to forget that you’re going to be a patient someday. You’re just as frail and just as human as everyone else. You’re not better than others.

7. Realize that being a doctor is a privilege.

You’ve been given responsibility . It’s a mighty privilege that someone has placed their lives in your hands and trusted you with intimate information about themselves.

8. Hang with the happy crowd.

I’ve realized this early. If you have to pick a side, pick the happy one. Because the always complaining, always sad, always finding the worm in the apple, crowd do perpetually look for worms and find them. Bad attitude is contagious. Spend time with a doctor who curses and swears and by the end of the month you’ll be doing it too. I’ve watched residents who flip in one month and the transformation is shocking.

8. Smile

It fixes everything.

9. Respect time.

Bullies and gunner docs usually get this perverse pleasure when one of the team is still not done with their work for the day. I’m an average Jane, so I hate when it happens. Something  I learnt from my training in the Philippines: the service finishes together.

So if by three o’clock I know my team member won’t finish, then the team splits up the work so that the service is done at five and everyone can go home. The patient is the goal.  Don’t be the dictator that tells the intern to start typing up a discharge summary as he’s packing his bag to go home.

10. Live a little.

Build a life outside of your hospital where you can vent bad attitude. All of us get swept in it. Things happen, words are exchanged and fingers get pointed; but don’t vent on your colleagues, peers, subordinates or worse your family.

Kick-box, run, swim, dance, do something where you can take it all out. A hobby or a craft or a sport. Anything. There’s more to your life than just delivering healthcare. Don’t pass through life. Live it.

Bad attitude is contagious. How do you deal with doctors who have it?

 

 

The post QMC-9 Bad Attitude among Doctors appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

Tips to Record your own Audiobook

Today I’ m going to share tips on recording your own audio book. Now lots of sites will tell how to record your audio-book. But as I prepared for my own recording and glanced through them, I found that there was little practical advice about the actual recording.

Pamela Q. Fernandes at the Cristal Studio

I’m no professional artist. Since last week I’ve begun to voice-over medical lectures for students and I’ve learned so much. I wish somebody had given me these tips before I did mine.  By the time I was done I got very sick. I want to warn and help you as you prepare for yours.

1.Review the material

It’s good to review the material and set a benchmark. These many pages/ slides in these many hours. You may not always finish them exactly as planned but when you have a ballpark in your mind, you’re mentally fixed on a target.

2. Practice

This is a time consuming step. But the more you invest in this, the less errors you’ll make while recording. I wouldn’t suggest reading out aloud, but rather read the text, put slashes where natural pauses occur. Find out correct pronunciations of words. During this practice session you will be able to identify the tongue twisters. Alliterations can be a particular problem. My problem word was “statistical.”

3. Make a voice-over kit

This is a kit you carry to the studio. It must contain warm water in a flask. Because not all studios will warm your water for you. Warm water will soothe your voice. Carry candy in this kit. If your voice suddenly turns scratchy, (and it will if you’re recording for multiple days) candy helps. Carry tissues, lip balm and hair ties. Also carry a meal if recording for more than two hours. This kit can go inside your studio with you. Barring the meal I created a kit so that I didn’t have to get up every time for my things. This kit sat at my feet while I recorded.

4. Eat a good breakfast

I found recording in the mornings to be better even if it was not a very good use of my time. I was fresh and could record far more material in the mornings than evening. Irrespective of time of day, eat well before you go. Griping sound are audible and if you don’t eat well, within an hour of recording you will be exhausted and your vocal cords will tire very easily. Be sensible about food, nothing creamy, cheesy, oily or spicy.

4. Don’t record continuously

Every twenty minutes take a break. Your vocal cords need rest. Trust me, I wasn’t told this, but after a couple of days of being pressured to record for over six hours my voice was hoarse and I couldn’t get past five minutes of recording without having to clear my throat. You may think it won’t happen to you, but I implore you, take frequent breaks.

5. Don’t record for more than four hours

Yes, it can be done. But don’t do more than four. Especially if you have a very long book/ work. More than four hours of continuous talking strains your voice and it will start to hurt. If not on the first day then definitely by the fourth which happened in my case.

6. Use electronic instead of paper. 

I prefer using my laptop to read instead of paper. With paper I found myself having to shuffle pages and rustling creates additional sound.

7. If you’ve made a mistake, stop. 

By the end of the first day, I had developed a good rapport with my sound engineer. All I had to do was look across the glass and he would give me the last place where I had to start. Once the engineer has a “feel” for your reading style it will all be smooth sailing. No one is going to punish you for a mistake.

8. Hair

Hair and fidgety movements affect sound. When I realized my hair kept falling in my face I added hair ties to my kit.

9. Lip Balm

I don’t know the scientific reason, but wearing lip balm helped me read better. I think lip balm lubricates the lips. So the lips read smoothly. The ability to enunciate each word is so much easier.  So carry lip balm and replenish as needed.

10. Drink warm water often. 

In fact, if you find yourself making too many errors, then stop. Drink warm water. Your body might be telling you its needs a break. Hydrating your mouth is very helpful. Plus most studios don’t have allow air conditioners on while recording, so as to reduce the noise. You may find yourself sweating it out.

11.  Wear loose comfortable clothing. 

Wear something comfortable. You’re going to be recording in the heat for hours.  Wear an open or round neck. Anything constricting your neck will make it harder to read aloud.

12. Trust your sound engineer

My sound engineer could pre-empt when I was tired, my voice needed rest or water. Even if you don’t need it and have been asked to drink water, or have been asked to repeat a sentence, do what your sound engineer tells you. He’s only try to help you deliver the best work possible. You may get mad but drink your water and move on. You have a job to do.

13. Don’t obsesses over the time

It’s very easy when you’re paying a studio hourly, to obsess over how much you got done and how much is left. If you do this you won’t be able to concentrate on what you’re reading.

14. Rest your voice

When you go home, don’t sing or talk too much if you have to go back to record the next day. Mariah Carey does not speak to anyone before a major performance

15. Do some vocal exercises to strengthen the muscles in your larynx.

Take a look at Celine Dion talking about her vocal routine. If you’re planning a really long project, you must work on developing a strong voice. Like any other muscle, those in your throat also need exercise for them to grow stronger.

 

16. Don’t go on marathon recording days. 

I would suggest recording every alternate day. But this is not feasible for most authors.  Everything is done in daily marathon sessions. If that’s the case for you as well, record for four days, then take a one day break, then start again. You will thank me later.

17. Carry a decongestant

At the first sign of your throat clogging up, take a decongestant. If overnight your voice sounds more hoarse see an ENT and tell them you’ve been voice-recording because you most likely will have developed or are in the process of developing an infection. I know this from experience.

After this experience I have come to admire people who do this daily. Not an easy job.

Do you have any additional tips? After a week’s break, I will be heading back to the studio, do you have any more tips on audio recording for this amateur. Let me know.

 

The post Tips to Record your own Audiobook appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

PRE-ORDER NOW! TEN REMINDERS FOR THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN WOMAN

If you’ve been to listening to our podcasts, then you’ve heard my tentative release date. My book is out for pre-order, now

It’s confirmed! July 6, 2017 is our official publication date.

I’m so happy, because despite all the obstacles I can see God’s hand working behind the scenes. He’s led me to the right people at the right time to help see this book finished on time. And now we’re available for pre-order.

The book is part of the “TEN REMINDERS” series. It’s in the same vein; with a chapter, a prayer, and a small activity.

Right now we’ll be available exclusively on Amazon, before we get ready for sale across other formats.

Here’s the cover. Don’t you love it?

Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman

And here’s the synopsis:

Are you a single Christian woman wondering what’s going to happen next in your life?

Is your faith wavering as you wait for that special “someone”?

Have you been praying and enduring for months only to go though another breakup, failed relationship or bad decision?

If this is you, then this book is for you.

In Ten Reminders for the Single Christian Woman, Dr. Pamela Q. Fernandes talks about why you should stay optimistic and remain in God’s love.

As a follow up book in her Ten Reminder Series, she talks about her own struggles with faith, discerning a vocation and finding meaning as single Christian woman.

 

PRE-ORDER BOOK LINK: Amazon

Watch out for our promo and freebies as we get closer to launch date. I’m so excited and it’s only the pre-order stage. Yipppeeee! What do you think of the cover?

Also, if you’re a christian blogger interested in a copy let me know.  Or do you have a friend who could benefit from this book, then write to me. I would be glad to send a free copy! Yes, (no hidden agenda!) Just want to get this book into the right hands.

 

 

The post PRE-ORDER NOW! TEN REMINDERS FOR THE SINGLE CHRISTIAN WOMAN appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

QMC 8 – Help, My patient is freaking out over package inserts!

Package insert causing mayhem! Haha.

Package Insert: Legal Requirement for all drugs

It’s weird how this question came in. Dr. MC, says, “My patient was prescribed textbook medications for his condition. He’s read the package insert and he’s freaking out. How can I convince him that this is what’s best for him!”

Why is this question weird, you ask? Because as of this week, I’m teaching students how to create and write package inserts and patient information leaflets.

If you’ve seen most package inserts, they are scary. Long page, fine script, lots of don’ts and negative stuff. A good package leaflet is usually neutral but that’s not what we’re discussing.

If you’re faced with a similar situation, then see below:

1.Make time

When dealing with patients who come back waving the leaflet, you must prepare to spend some time with these guys. Even if it means keeping them till the very end. You can’t just shoo em in and out.  Give them your time and attention.

2. Listen to what they’re saying

Often they will have questions that are justified. “Doctor does this drug really thin my blood?” Listen to their questions and write it all down.  Maybe they’re scared of the side effects(usually the case) or maybe they’ve read what the leaflet is also prescribed for, “But Doc, it says here this is also given to patients who had a heart attack. I didn’t have a heart, did I? Will I have one soon?” Just listen. Don’t wait to bombard them with your explanation. Once you listen, wait, pause for dramatic effect. Let them know this isn’t new information for you. You know this stuff. Just because they’re new at it, doesn’t mean you are. Give them the sense that you have a handle of the drug and it’s effects. And if you don’t give the leaflet a cursory look.

3. Explain the risk/ benefit ratio

Ideally, you should be explaining this to your patients BEFORE you prescribe. For me, no matter what I’m prescribing, I always take 20 seconds to tell the patient of potential side effects. Not only does it make me look smart (wink), but it also tells my patient that I’m truly concerned about them. And that at the first sign of something going wrong, they must notify me.

Also make it very clear, “If you don’t take this medicine, what’s the alternative? The drug is meant to thin your blood, because otherwise it has a propensity to clot. Your tests, X and Y have proven so.” Explain that this is the standard treatment. If you know the statistics then mention that as well. Justify everything you’re doing.

4. Be Honest 

Don’t lie. If the insert says that dizziness could be a side effect, then agree that it can be a potential side effect.  Don’t lie and say “These things really don’t happen.” Patients won’t believe you.

5. Stress the importance of the Package Insert

The Package Insert was created to inform the public.  Establish with your patient that all drugs are chemical molecules that have effects. The drugs have been studied and the entire spectrum of side effects is mentioned on an insert by law to inform people of the potential side effects even rare ones. This is usually done so as to prepare people for all eventualities.  Don’t tell patients to ignore the Package insert. In fact, encourage them to read and ask you any questions they may have. Often I ask patients to get back to me in a week, by mailing my nurse or phoning in to say they’re doing better or having any effects, just so they know I’m interested in knowing if they’re experiencing any effects.

Take a look at this paper about the effect of a package insert on patients here. Most of the patients who are frightened by them return to their GP’s for a discussion. No Biggie.

Let me know if this worked for you. And other superstar docs out there, do you have a better way of dealing with this. I’d love to know!

 

 

 

The post QMC 8 – Help, My patient is freaking out over package inserts! appeared first on PAMELA Q. FERNANADES.

Word Count -Why one size does not fit all ideas?

Word count is one of the guidelines when it comes to publishing.  Whether you’re querying or pitching your new project, the word count is going to be key in those discussions.

But as an author how do you know if a particular idea can be a full novel or a novella? How do you decide it can be expanded?

So some rough numbers here:

100-8000 words – Short story

8000- 40,000 words- Novella

Anything over 55,000- Novel (Except for romance, most genres want word count 70,000 and up for a decent novel)

If you’re like me you will have hundreds of ideas in a week. With a fertile imagination comes a glut of ideas. All of those ideas have a story, some conflict and you have to find the resolution. So how do you distill those ideas and set it to a format with a designated word count. You’ve seen I have all sorts of length of work. Fingers crossed that I can get a novel sold.