Friday, November 13, 2009

Say WHAT?

I'm reading through hospital records on a patient who's coming in later today. They include a consult note from another local neurologist, which contained this statement:


"This patient's confusion is from a multifactorial toxic-metabolic encephalopathy. This is primarily caused by, but not limited to, multifactorial causes from multifactorial medical issues, multifactorial medications, and other multiple multifactorial factors. Multifactorial treatments focused on addressing these multiple multifactorial issues may or may not result in a polyfactorial and/or multifactorial improvement in his multifactorial toxic-metabolic encephalopathy."

51 comments:

3sweeties said...

Well, that certainly clears up any confusion.

Anonymous said...

Maybe its a test to see if anyone is reading the chart?

Anonymous said...

Is the word of the day multifactorial?

Disgruntled RPh said...

So, I'm thinking he basically had no clue what was wrong and was trying to make that sound better. Wow, the s**t you have to wade thru.....

Anonymous said...

you have GOT to be kidding me.

Maggie said...

So, like, this patient's confusion is from a lot of stuff, and is caused by a lot of stuff, as well as a lot more stuff, and should be treated by a lot of stuff, which may or may not improve stuff.

But I'm easily confused.

Flavius said...

multiple multifactorial factors... I'm definitely using that.

-Flavius

moppie said...

Sounds like a kid trying to make their papers longers but don't know what to write.

Grumpy, M.D. said...

I know. And it's not like we get paid by the syllable or word.

Dr. Dad said...

Multiple multifactorial- that's a whole lotta something. And I think we're knee deep in it!

Thank heavens he tried mutifactorial treatments- what else could he do?

Better yet, if we're lucky the patient might get polyfactorial and/or multifactorial improvement. Isn't that what we all want for our patients?

JimAtTheRez said...

I'm multifactorially confused.

KateA said...

So, multifactorial is the new "umm" or "like." You just through it in there to fill up space.

Pranab said...

omg... this isn't for real, right? creative license and all?

Grumpy, M.D. said...

It's real.

This guy is known for redundant verbosity redundance, though this was impressive even by his standards.

The Derownsh Man said...

Maybe he has Tourette's and he's had a lot of therapy to make him say "multifactorial" instead of "fucking."

Celeste said...

Invite him out some night for a drinking game with one of his reports. You do the reading, make him do the drinking. Maybe the hangover could be educational.

C. said...

"Hello? Department of Redundancy Department."

*shakes head*

Let's see if I understand this statement right (I'm an engineer):

The Patient's confusion is caused by a toxic-metabolic encephalopathy with more than one cause, whether it be medications or other issues and causes. It may take more than one type of treatment to get everything and even then it may not work... entirely.

Does that about cover it? *wry* (or am I totally wrong here...)

Doris said...

Hey, Derownsh Man...

"This patient's confusion is from a fucking toxic-metabolic encephalopathy. This is primarily caused by, but not limited to, a lot of fucking causes from fucking medical issues, fucking medications, and other multiple fucking factors. Fucking treatments focused on addressing these multiple fucking issues may or may not result in a really fucking and/or merely fucking improvement in his fucking toxic-metabolic encephalopathy."

I say, I think he's got it!

>:p

Doris

Anonymous said...

Idiopathic.

That's all I have to add.

Freckles said...

So basically the doctor is like... "Well I have no clue what is going on so I am going to send him to Dr. Grumpy. However I have no clue what is wrong... How do I possibly make this sound like I am not a complete idiot." And out comes the the world's most no committal paragraph. And severe abuse of the word multifactoral.

Anonymous said...

I'm hoping he dictates and rambles without realizing what he's rambling about because it's particularly scary if he actually wrote that stuff.

Andrew said...

Hm, sounds like someone needs to buy him a thesaurus.

Frank said...

The Patient's confusion is from listening to the doctor speak speak multifactorially. This multifactorial issue is caused by multifactorial and/or polyfactorial issues of the multifactorial nature. ... Multifactorial.

I wonder, did that doctor get his degree from Multifactorial University?

pAula said...

ahhhh, another example of mastering the art of speaking without saying anything!

Pharmacy Jocky. said...

reminds me of Supper Troopers and how many times can I saw meow or in this case multifactorial.p

Kim said...

Doc that consult note is just ridiculous, he goes from multifactorial to POLYfactorial. Poly....Seriously?

Pharmacy Jocky that comment has all kinds of WIN in it. Love Super Troopers! Alright meow....

Funnyrunner said...

I think it was a game to see how many times he could (she) use the word multifactorial in one day. Must've been the word of the day...

Anonymous said...

HuH??? Clear as mud--stumbling verbage personified!
CP

ausduck said...

Hang on... the difference between multifactorial and polyfactorial is.... a few letters of the alphabet??!

I guess that he may have thought perhaps that multifactorial had been used a tad too much so put another word in there from the Idiot's Guide to Thesaurus' lol.

cynic said...

Sounds like a psychiatrists dictation. I did not think anyone read their notes besides themselves.

Susan said...

I would give this person a wide berth in the hallways....

Pharmer Jones said...

I would refuse to believe that this was dictated/written by an actual physician, except that you're the one telling us about it.

Re: Doris' interpretation-- I'd much rather read the cussing. It's more straightforward!

webhill said...

He has OCD, and has to use the word "multifactorial" nine times in each patient assessment, or else he has to go back and rewrite it?

Qex said...

I almost wonder if he tried Law or business school before he became a doctor

Anonymous said...

LOL!

The Lonely Midwife said...

I feel for the person who had to listen to this crap dictation!

Frantic Pharmacist said...

I think we're being too hard on the guy. All he's trying to say is, "patient needs a good poop."

Anonymous said...

It sounds like this patient has a poor prognosis...

tottergirl said...

Brain go splody!

Anonymous said...

In Georgia I had an attending (who used to round in overalls) who had a famous quote on rounds:

"What in the hell did you just say?"

I can hear him in my mind reading this consult note.

Me said...

what's the main factor in the patients prognosis?

SumDood said...

I think it's the doctor who has a poor prognosis.

Anonymous said...

read between the lines. it means the patient is crazy.

Anonymous said...

Coming from working previously as a medical secretary, I would HATE to have to transcribe his dictation. Whoever does can not be getting paid enough. YIKES!!!!

j said...

LOL Doris & Derownsh

CYA at its best.

Dragonfly said...

Make sure there is a multidisciplinary meeting to discuss the biopsychosociospiritual aspects of this complex and multifactorial case.

Doctor D said...

Grumpy, you should call in some Aricept for this guy. I don't think he'd be able to manage to write the script himself.

Anonymous said...

Is the patient the one who's confused or the doctor?

Anonymous said...

Doris: That was awesome!

Thanks Doc Grumpy.

Anonymous said...

Guarantee the doc or the transcriptionist is a stoner. Either or.
It sounded good at the time, man.

Anonymous said...

Now I know why people rely on Craigslist's forums for a diagnosis.

 
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