Everywhere you look, you’ll find barriers to getting health care, to finding out more about your condition, to talking to your doctor, and to understanding what is happening or what is going to happen. The answering service, the office staff, the pharmacy, they’re all barriers. I’ll show you what they are and perhaps, open up a few doors with ideas of how to get over those barriers

The language barrier

A doctor told this story:
“I was performing a complete physical, including the visual acuity test. I placed the patient twenty feet from the chart and began, "Cover your right eye with your hand." He read the 20/20 line perfectly. "Now your left." Again, a flawless read. "Now both," I requested. There was silence. He couldn't even read the large E on the top line. I turned and discovered that he had done exactly what I had asked; he was standing there with both his eyes covered. I was laughing too hard to finish the exam.”

There is a serious language barrier between medical staff and patients. It makes you wish that you could fire back in similar unintelligible fashion such words as “fiduciary” (although that sounds like a dreaded medical condition) and “amortization.” How about “indemnify”?
Why must doctors use the big words? For that matter, why does anyone have to use big words? Who’s impressed? Betcha if you asked, very few would be. Yeah, there are lots of books that talk a lot about expanding your vocabulary and “learn a new word every day” but what they don’t tell you is that the majority of people that you’ll be conversing with won't have the foggiest idea what the heck you’re saying when you use those new words.
Why can't they just say, “you have gallstones” instead of “you have cholelithiasis.”? Understanding gallstones is hard enough because you don’t know what you did to get them. “What did I do wrong?” is one of the most common thoughts people have when first told they have a condition. They can't even get to that point if they don’t know what the doctor’s talking about. They hear these big words and think they’re dying. One goal of a physician – reassuring the patient - is shot to hell right there. When all they have is gallstones!
The doctor wants you to take drugs whose names you can't even pronounce – and he wants you to remember all of them so that you can tell anyone who needs to know. How often does that happen? You’re not standing at the bus stop trying to strike up a conversation with someone when you say, “Hey, have you ever taken Digoxin? Or how about methocarbamide?” That’ll get you a lot of dates! Why can't they give you little cards with your meds listed? They have such high technology, why not put it to use for the people who are going to need it! They can print out a bill; let them print out a medication card too!

College, what college?

If people are trying to learn about others they need to quickly ascertain what their education level is. Not that anyone really cares about the actual education level, but in communication it’s so important to figure out how to properly phrase things. For a doctor, noting education level and upbringing are essential in determining what medical advice will be followed. For example, Hispanic people love tortillas so carbohydrates are a part of their life. This would be a difficult aspect to overcome. Some cultures love fatty foods. These factors have to be taken into consideration.
Doctors really do live in a bubble. They must get to know you and listen to you. This takes time, conversation and the desire to know you. It takes questions about your life and about how much trouble it will be for you to follow their instructions. Doctors don’t ask about them or what they could do to help you get past the obstacles. They just tell you to follow their orders.
People with less education may also be prone to having to work harder and longer hours, so taking medications or special diets during the day may not be feasible. How would the doctor know that standing there in his white coat while you’re in THAT SKIMPY GOWN? Does he care whether or not it’s hard for you to follow his complicated instructions?