PROFESSIONAble to practice: Physicians with disabilities do what it takes to thriveFrom residency to employment, these doctors demonstrate their capabilities.By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. Jan. 17, 2005. A strobe light flashes in the exam room of Carolyn Stern, MD, alerting her that a patient has arrived. Dr. Stern doesn't use a receptionist at her solo family medicine practice, and patients press a button on the waiting room wall as they come in. As Dr. Stern ushers the patient back to the exam room, she introduces herself, explains she is deaf and tells the patient it's important for her to look at her when speaking so she can lip-read. Dr. Stern's husband, who manages the practice, serves as her interpreter and can track her down for emergencies. Dr. Stern asks why the young woman has come in and starts taking her history. She faces the patient, pausing at times to type notes into a laptop. When her hands are free, she signs; otherwise, the only other indication that she's deaf is a distinctive pattern to her speech. Dr. Stern is one of a small percentage of physicians with sensory or physical disabilities practicing medicine in the United States. Their practice situations run the gamut, as does their reception from colleagues. Some work within large institutions; others are in group or individual practices. A few find they are sought after, while others struggle to prove they won't be a liability to their peers or to their patients. Statistics on the number of physicians with a disability who are practicing medicine are scarce. A study published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, based on data from 1996, estimated that 0.2% of medical school graduates have disabilities. [...]Full text of AMNews content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2005 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
|
AMA meeting special section
See comprehensive House of Delegates coverage. Meeting coverage | Slide show | PDF Feature articlesWhat's in a number? Cost variance figure drives policy and courts controversy Breaking through barriers Incoming AMA president ready to tackle tough issues Twitter What's the use? Physicians tell how they use the microblogging tool
Follow us on Twitter
Comprehensive coverage
Most-viewedJuly 6 issueHouse health reform bill first to tackle Medicare physician pay Hospital system tries letting patients read physicians' notes Columns and series
From the vault: 5 years agoAMA studies liability surcharges July 5, 2004We're hiringClinical topics reporter
|