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Doctors and patients
can take steps to relieve
white-coat syndrome.

Dr Marc Brod.sleys waiting room is designed to be patient friendly

RUTHAN I3RODSKY

Special to the Jewish News

S tripped to the waist, Ralph sits on an examination table in his
shorts, , reading the latest issue of Readers Digest.
Ralph seems
,
calm enough. He was complaining of severe heartburn and
acid indigestion and wanted to check it out
By the time his physician is ready to examine him, Ralph's blood
pressure is spiking and his pulse is racing to 120 beats per minute.
The stress of seeing a doctor has affected Ralph so much that his
blood pressure readings are very high, although his blood pressure is
usually normal. White-coat syndrome or white-coat hypertension
refers to high blood pressure, which is seen only when a patient is in
the presence of health care professionals. Sometimes it is mistaken for

fixed hypertension, which can lead to unneces-
sary diagnostic testing and inappropriate use of
antihypertensive medications.
`White-coat syndrome is very common for
new patients," says Dr. Marc Brodsky, a heart
doctor. "Most patients dislike going to a cardiol-
ogist because the health issues are usually serious
and they are afraid of what >I may tell them.
"I3esicle.s, doctors' offices are usually intimidat-
ing and cold looking. My wife, Susan, a dentist,
is accustomed to anxious patients. She was
instrumental in helping me desig,n our office
interior to look and feel more patient-friendly."
NtientS entering Dr. BmcIskys West
Bloomfield office find a waiting room with
upholstered chairs and small sofas arranged in
conversational groupings, much like a family
room. Candy (diet) filled dishes, an overstuffed
teddy bear wearing, a large heart, an antique-like
globe and unusual baskets used for displaying
magazines make up me, curies.
Classical nmsic is pil es 0-1 -1 the speaker system in the wait" 0
room and in the exarnini rot*Is.
:
inb
Continuing the notion as
ing patients feel comfortable, the
nuclear exam waiting room,
the Nate Nook by the staff
exhibits more creative ener
most
With
i
dominant
color, large ceramic gitenlea ves
°ffices;
li7.n ', on theNvan
gree liswith
as ril e
arger-tha.ii-life-size metal insects. Again, upholstered.
furniture, live
potted plants, arid photos of nature scenes 1 atients forget — or
at least not focus on
the fact that they are in a doctor's office.

Patient Expectations
"I wear a white lab coat because patients expect to see their cirdiolo-
gist dressed like this and I want to instill confidence," explains Dr.
Brodsky,. The trick is to balance the relaxed atmosphere with the pro-
fessional agenda, and that's something we never learn in med school.

7/13
2001

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