My perspective: They are the good doctors

As a rule of thumb, most doctors lack a lot in the bedside-manners department when it comes to dealing with patients who are blind and visually impaired. I can tell you that over the years I have met many more who fall into this category as opposed to those who do not.

However, I am here today to highlight two wonderful doctors who are shining examples when it comes to the good ones who exemplify above and beyond bedside manners.

First:  Doctor Danielle Manis, my family Doctor since 2006.  This wonderful lady Doctor really knows how to deal with patients who are blind and visually impaired.  She has a very gentle demeanor.  She is ever ready to explain things to me.  She tells me exactly what she wishes me to know and before handing over prescriptions and requisite forms to me, she is very attentive to explain them to me.

Whenever she calls me she always says, "It's Dani Manis calling." She always escorts me from her office to the reception area when we are finished and she is always sure to say hi to whoever is with me. 

Then there is Doctor Everton Gooden, a truly wonderful ENT specialist who I met in October 2015.  From the word go I knew that this very soft-spoken doctor would be golden and I was right. 

From his office to the operating room, and then to the recovery room, Doctor Gooden has always been very sure to explain things to me.  He is very thorough at all times, telling me exactly what he is going to do and how he is going to do it. 

After my surgery in April 2016, there he was in the recovery room checking up on me and explaining things to me.  Then when I went to his office to have the packing removed a week later, there he was again explaining every step to me as he went.

These are the good doctors.  They exhibit the finest of bedside manners and as someone who is visually impaired I sure appreciate it all the way.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

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Doctor, I Can Hear You!

This is one of my pet peeves: Doctors who find it more efficient to talk over my head or to the person accompanying me to my appointment. You would think that part of their training would include teaching physicians how to interact with persons who are sight impaired, but it seems not to be the case. So many of my clients continue to complain about the total lack of bedside manners when it comes to doctors being able to interact with them. At the best of times doctors do not really know how to interact with their patients, but when you are sight impaired it makes things even more difficult.

As someone who has had to spend a lot of time in doctors’ offices, I can tell you that they really need to learn how to treat those of us who are sight impaired. Sometimes they create an impression of either not being able to communicate with us or they do not believe that we are capable of understanding. I have had doctors who prefer to talk to my mom rather than me, even though I'm an adult! I have had others who ignored my questions, and still others who have walked out of the office at the end of an appointment without even bothering to say that the appointment was over.

So many times I wish that I could say, "Doctor I am here! I am the patient and you can talk to me. I can hear you and I can compute!" I often wonder why is it that so many doctors have difficulty communicating with those of us who are sight impaired. At the best of times they have difficulty communicating with the mainstream patient but for us my opinion is as follows.

The eyes are what the rest of the world uses to communicate and when there is a situation whereby the eyes are unable to communicate, then all hell breaks loose and everything goes haywire. Blind and visually-impaired persons are unable to use their eyes to communicate. So, what is the solution? More education and more awareness training.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your accessibility and special-needs business consultant urging you to go out there and tell the rest of the world that they can communicate with blind and visually impaired persons in ways other than through the eyes. To learn more, you can visit www.nfb.org.