Best way to provide video content for waiting room?

[usually_quiet]

I have decided I should start watching Dr. Oz. It will be interesting to see how much of the advice presented on the show that isn't currently accepted by most doctors eventually becomes mainstream, and how much is proven wrong.

That would be akin to checking the accuracy of a fortune teller. They will no doubt get some things right among the large number of things they get wrong but what they get right will be due to total random chance rather than from some special wisdom.

I have caught a few minutes at the end of the show now and then. The advice given pretty much agreed with what my family doctor had to say on the subject of nutrition: Eat fish twice a week, and increase your consumption of whole grains and colorful vegetables.

I would start looking for a new physician if I had one that loathed answering his patients questions about what they see on TV as much as you say you do. I get very little information from my doctor unless I ask questions....and everybody should be asking more questions and standing up for themselves when it comes to their health. A bad diagnosis by an ignorant former family doctor almost cost me my life because I took his word for what was wrong with me even though I felt it was incorrect.

Quiet you need to be careful about judging people you don't know. I never said I don't like to answer patients questions, in fact I do it all day long happily. What I don't like is when I have to take time away from discussing important subjects in order to undo misinformation that has been given out by doctors or news reporters who don't know what they are talking about.

Not everything Dr. Oz says is wrong, In fact thats what is so dangerous about him. A lot of what he discusses is at least partly factual but he peppers his shows with lots of alternative medicine voodoo nonsense that is not evidence or science based. He is far more interested in promoting his own career than he is in presenting good information to his viewers. Its all about the ratings and if you want good ratings you have to give the public what they want whether its accurate or not. It seems that afternoon TV audiences want to believe that every medical problem can be prevented or cured with some "super food" or large amounts of antioxidants, or that nearly every cancer can be detected early if you just listen to your body. There is a grain of truth to both of these comments but the hype he uses to promote this stuff creates unrealistic and inaccurate expectations. I could go on and on but this really isnt the purpose of this thread so lets just leave it at that.

I have had good doctors and bad doctors but never one who wasn't proven wrong at some point by entirely legitimate science regarding something that he or she told me was true. I prefer to make up my own mind about what I see, read, or hear, and have every right to do that. Plus, I'm not your patient, so lets leave it at that.

[macgyver58]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who offered technical and legal advice. It was a big help

[lordsmurf]

if I had one that loathed answering his patients questions about what they see on TV

I get irritated as hell from people who insist something can be done with video/audio/photo, because they saw it on CSI. While CSI methods are almost always based on reality, and sometimes actually mirror it, a lot of it is complete fantasy magic fiction. The likelihood of achieving those results is about as likely as being passed on the highway by a fairy riding a unicorn.

[usually_quiet]

if I had one that loathed answering his patients questions about what they see on TV

I get irritated as hell from people who insist something can be done with video/audio/photo, because they saw it on CSI. While CSI methods are almost always based on reality, and sometimes actually mirror it, a lot of it is complete fantasy magic fiction. The likelihood of achieving those results is about as likely as being passed on the highway by a fairy riding a unicorn.

So what.

What if I'm asking a completely valid question about something I saw on TV? My father has had overly loose stools for years. He has had all kinds of tests to figure out why, and they have produced no answers. He has seen specialists as well as his PCP. If I go with Dad and ask his PCP questions related to diet that might be causing the problem because I saw it on TV, then I say it came from Dr Oz (for the sake of argument) and the doctor doesn't like that, piss on him. He doesn't have an answer and as far as I can tell has never asked about this aspect of Dad's diet. (Caffiene and artificial sweeteners.) For the record, this doctor did not think my question was a foolish one.

[macgyver58]

if I had one that loathed answering his patients questions about what they see on TV

I get irritated as hell from people who insist something can be done with video/audio/photo, because they saw it on CSI. While CSI methods are almost always based on reality, and sometimes actually mirror it, a lot of it is complete fantasy magic fiction. The likelihood of achieving those results is about as likely as being passed on the highway by a fairy riding a unicorn.

So what.

What if I'm asking a completely valid question about something I saw on TV. My father has had overly loose stools for years. He has had all kinds of tests to figure out why, and they have produced no answers. He has seen specialists as well as his PCP. If I go with Dad and ask his PCP questions related to diet that might be causing the problem because I saw it on TV, then I say it came from Dr Oz (for the sake of argument) and the doctor doesn't like that, piss on him. He doesn't have an answer and as far as I can tell has never asked about this aspect of Dad's diet. (Caffiene and artificial sweeteners.) For the record, this doctor did not think my question was a foolish one.

This thread has gotten completely off topic but I think you're completely missing the point. The problem is not with the patient, the problem is with the irresponsible and ignorant individuals who put poorly researched and poorly prepared material on TV which then confuses patients. This results in professional having to waste time undoing the confusion and misconception. People are certainly free to watch whatever they want at home and since I can't control the quality ( or serious lack of it) of the medical information the media puts on the air I can at least control the quality of the information that patients are presented with in my own office. I'm not really sure why anyone would have a dispute with that.

[usually_quiet]

if I had one that loathed answering his patients questions about what they see on TV

I get irritated as hell from people who insist something can be done with video/audio/photo, because they saw it on CSI. While CSI methods are almost always based on reality, and sometimes actually mirror it, a lot of it is complete fantasy magic fiction. The likelihood of achieving those results is about as likely as being passed on the highway by a fairy riding a unicorn.

So what.

What if I'm asking a completely valid question about something I saw on TV. My father has had overly loose stools for years. He has had all kinds of tests to figure out why, and they have produced no answers. He has seen specialists as well as his PCP. If I go with Dad and ask his PCP questions related to diet that might be causing the problem because I saw it on TV, then I say it came from Dr Oz (for the sake of argument) and the doctor doesn't like that, piss on him. He doesn't have an answer and as far as I can tell has never asked about this aspect of Dad's diet. (Caffiene and artificial sweeteners.) For the record, this doctor did not think my question was a foolish one.

This thread has gotten completely off topic but I think you're completely missing the point. The problem is not with the patient, the problem is with the irresponsible and ignorant individuals who put poorly researched and poorly prepared material on TV which then confuses patients. This results in professional having to waste time undoing the confusion and misconception. People are certainly free to watch whatever they want at home and since I can't control the quality ( or serious lack of it) of the medical information the media puts on the air I can at least control the quality of the information that patients are presented with in my own office. I'm not really sure why anyone would have a dispute with that.

Your patients are watching TV at home for 20 hours a week. Seriously, how many foolish questions to you think you can eliminate and how much misinformation do you think you are preventing them from receiving by restricting what they can watch in your office?

I doubt that you can be held legally or morally responsible for anything the patients choose to watch on their own while in your office.

[macgyver58]

Your patients are watching TV at home for 20 hours a week. Seriously, how many foolish questions to you think you can eliminate and how much misinformation do you think you are preventing them from receiving by restricting what they can watch in your office?

I doubt that you can be held legally or morally responsible for anything the patients choose to watch on their own while in your office.

The point is that my office and what is presented there represents me. What they see here will carry more weight because patients know we chose to put that information or programming in front of them. This may not be true in every office but we are heavily in to patient education and produce a fair amount of printed material toward that end. Our patients know that a lot of thought goes into everything that is done in my office.

I have a responsibility to my patients to make sure that what they are seeing is good information and not the typical media slop that masquerades as medical information.

[usually_quiet]

Your patients are watching TV at home for 20 hours a week. Seriously, how many foolish questions to you think you can eliminate and how much misinformation do you think you are preventing them from receiving by restricting what they can watch in your office?

I doubt that you can be held legally or morally responsible for anything the patients choose to watch on their own while in your office.

The point is that my office and what is presented there represents me. What they see here will carry more weight because patients know we chose to put that information or programming in front of them. This may not be true in every office but we are heavily in to patient education and produce a fair amount of printed material toward that end. Our patients know that a lot of thought goes into everything that is done in my office.

I have a responsibility to my patients to make sure that what they are seeing is good information and not the typical media slop that masquerades as medical information.

You also objected to your patients watching soap operas while in your office. Although I don't enjoy them either, there is virtually no medical information presented in a soap opera. You object to them watching media slop period, even if it is purely entertainment. They have to watch what you consider quality entertainment instead. In my mind this says nothing good about you.

For the record my none of my doctors has a TV in the waiting room, although my dentist does, and provides a remote control for the patients' use. I prefer no TV.

[macgyver58]

You also objected to your patients watching soap operas while in your office. Although I don't enjoy them either, there is virtually no medical information in presented a soap opera. You object to them watching media slop period, even if it is purely entertainment. They have to watch what you consider quality entertainment instead. In my mind this says nothing good about you.

For the record my none of my doctors has a TV in the waiting room, although my dentist does, and provides a remote control for the patients' use. I prefer no TV.

You're right. Its my office and if there is going to a TV in the waiting room its going to be used for good rather than evil. Patients can watch whatever they want when their at home and if they chose they don't have to watch whats on the TV in my office either. They can read their kindle or surf the internet or do whatever they like but if we are going to provide some sort of video up there then I am going to use the opportunity to provide something that could be potentially helpful rather than something which is harmful or just plain fluff. Once again I dont see the point of your argument. We put magazines out for patients to read too and like most doctors, I chose what magazines to purchase and put in the waiting room. Do you find that offensive also? If I just leave the TV set on NBC, CBS etc would you be complaining so much?

If I was using the TV to promote my practice like other businesses do in their waiting room I might be able to remotely understand your complaint, but I don't. It seems like you have some absurd objection to the notion that someone else is limiting what you can watch when you go to the doctors office. Or maybe you find it offensive that I am not just limiting but actively selecting what is shown to patients in the waiting room. The fact us that patients are here for my professional opinion on issues regarding their health and that opinion starts the moment they walk through the door. The last thing I need is some idiot on the screen promoting a fake treatment or some other such scam inside my four walls.

You're taking your libertarian philosophy way too far here.

[usually_quiet]

You also objected to your patients watching soap operas while in your office. Although I don't enjoy them either, there is virtually no medical information in presented a soap opera. You object to them watching media slop period, even if it is purely entertainment. They have to watch what you consider quality entertainment instead. In my mind this says nothing good about you.

For the record my none of my doctors has a TV in the waiting room, although my dentist does, and provides a remote control for the patients' use. I prefer no TV.

You're right. Its my office and if there is going to a TV in the waiting room its going to be used for good rather than evil. Patients can watch whatever they want when their at home and if they chose they don't have to watch whats on the TV in my office either. They can read their kindle or surf the internet or do whatever they like but if we are going to provide some sort of video up there then I am going to use the opportunity to provide something that could be potentially helpful rather than something which is harmful or just plain fluff. Once again I dont see the point of your argument. We put magazines out for patients to read too and like most doctors, I chose what magazines to purchase and put in the waiting room. Do you find that offensive also? If I just leave the TV set on NBC, CBS etc would you be complaining so much?

If I was using the TV to promote my practice like other businesses do in their waiting room I might be able to remotely understand your complaint, but I don't. It seems like you have some absurd objection to the notion that someone else is limiting what you can watch when you go to the doctors office. Or maybe you find it offensive that I am not just limiting but actively selecting what is shown to patients in the waiting room. The fact us that patients are here for my professional opinion on issues regarding their health and that opinion starts the moment they walk through the door. The last thing I need is some idiot on the screen promoting a fake treatment or some other such scam inside my four walls.

You're taking your libertarian philosophy way too far here.

If magazines are provided, I can choose which magazines to read, or I can ignore them. I am forced to at least listen to the TV even if I choose not to watch it, because the volume won't be at a level which can easily be ignored. I can't wear headphones either. I may have to talk to someone and I need to be able to hear my name when it is called.

No TV is more professional and practical, in my opinion. I usually have paperwork to fill out and sometimes new policy statements to read, plus I have to think about what I am going to say to the doctor if I am ill. If I am with one of my parents, who are both hard of hearing at this point in their lives, I'm helping them fill out paperwork and I hate having to yell so I can be heard above the TV.

[Cornucopia]

Somehow, I'm guessing that if mcgyver58's clients had issues/complaints like yours, usually_quiet, he/she would give them credence and take steps to accommodate them, such as turning the volume off and using subtitles/captioning. Then it's more of a "voluntary" thing like you were saying with magazines.

Otherwise, I'm with him/her: it's their establishment to outfit as they see fit. Don't like it? - Don't use it!

I don't hold the medical establishment as being above mistakes or reproach, but they DO have skills & knowledge that is gathered from "the scientific method", rather then anecdotally. So, for the most part, should be listened to.
DO question; it is surely your RIGHT and your RESPONSIBILITY, and the great majority of medicos are on board with that and will gladly help discuss (I think this was more of a generational thing anyway). I know from my experience that, if I ask the "right" questions, or ask in the "right way", or with the right nomenclature, they are more prone/enthusiastic to open up than other times where they might think they would have to either "greatly re-educate" or "defend". Asking those "right" questions takes some homework on my part, and I guess that is where misinformation could creep in, but there are good, legitimate sites for finding med info on the web, etc that your med team will probably be glad to give you.

I think most of the Ad-related quasi-medical shows have a monetary agenda and should ALWAYS be taken with a grain of salt (and with GOOD programming to counteract, if need be).

mcgyver58, good luck with the programming. I looked at the legalese on the MPAA site, and while they are OBVIOUSLY of the hardline opinion about what constitutes copyright offenses, etc, they also seem to be quite "accommodating" with setting up licensing for establishments such as yours. So the outlook is promising...

Scott

[Viacon]

And why not playing some nice relaxing videos of nature? People waiting at the reception are nervous already so programming about doctors and advanced surgery wouldn't help much. There is a lot of relaxing video content in DVD or downloadable formats, you can find something on Youtube too. OK,here goes the site where you may find something interesting too: http://www.loungev.com/

[ageorge]

Your patients are watching TV at home for 20 hours a week. Seriously, how many foolish questions to you think you can eliminate and how much misinformation do you think you are preventing them from receiving by restricting what they can watch in your office?

I doubt that you can be held legally or morally responsible for anything the patients choose to watch on their own while in your office.

The point is that my office and what is presented there represents me. What they see here will carry more weight because patients know we chose to put that information or programming in front of them. This may not be true in every office but we are heavily in to patient education and produce a fair amount of printed material toward that end. Our patients know that a lot of thought goes into everything that is done in my office.

I have a responsibility to my patients to make sure that what they are seeing is good information and not the typical media slop that masquerades as medical information.

I'm a doc, too, and I appreciate your asking the original question, because I had pretty much the same questions, for the same reasons.

I'm not interested in trying to control what people watch, but I do feel I have responsibility for what I present to them, even in the waiting room.

Originally got a video player and had staff change out videos, then heard that videos generally are licensed for private/family and friends viewing, not to be played in public place. For a while I tried playing a playlist of public service/educational videos from youtube. Figured eventually I would make some of my own, upload them and add them to the playlist. Didn't work out well, and I ended up getting cable. The somebody stole my TV.

Finally looking at replacing it, and was looking for ideas for content and found this forum...

Andy

[usually_quiet]

Your patients are watching TV at home for 20 hours a week. Seriously, how many foolish questions to you think you can eliminate and how much misinformation do you think you are preventing them from receiving by restricting what they can watch in your office?

I doubt that you can be held legally or morally responsible for anything the patients choose to watch on their own while in your office.

The point is that my office and what is presented there represents me. What they see here will carry more weight because patients know we chose to put that information or programming in front of them. This may not be true in every office but we are heavily in to patient education and produce a fair amount of printed material toward that end. Our patients know that a lot of thought goes into everything that is done in my office.

I have a responsibility to my patients to make sure that what they are seeing is good information and not the typical media slop that masquerades as medical information.

I'm a doc, too, and I appreciate your asking the original question, because I had pretty much the same questions, for the same reasons.

I'm not interested in trying to control what people watch, but I do feel I have responsibility for what I present to them, even in the waiting room.

Originally got a video player and had staff change out videos, then heard that videos generally are licensed for private/family and friends viewing, not to be played in public place. For a while I tried playing a playlist of public service/educational videos from youtube. Figured eventually I would make some of my own, upload them and add them to the playlist. Didn't work out well, and I ended up getting cable. The somebody stole my TV.

Finally looking at replacing it, and was looking for ideas for content and found this forum...

Andy

If you want your patients to see you as a professional, don't get another TV. Don't you realize how difficult it is to hear, speak, read and fill out paperwork with the TV blaring? Your office is a place of business and if your patients need to be entertained while they wait they can bring something with them.

[Mark F]

Sometimes I think the wrong aspect ratio gets you out of the license obligation, given the number of mis-set TVs I've seen in waiting rooms, bars, and restaurants.

[newpball]

Sometimes I think the wrong aspect ratio gets you out of the license obligation, given the number of mis-set TVs I've seen in waiting rooms, bars, and restaurants.

What irritates me more is those mandatory closed captioning rules.

[Cornucopia]

And I thank the powers that be for those helpful, nondiscriminatory and inclusive mandatory captioning rules.

...now, can we ignore these ridiculous graverobbers or at least get back on topic?

Scott

[DB83]

Think I read this first time around.

Over here, we do have variously licensing rules. If it is just music in a public place then you pay a licence so that the musicians right's are protected.

If it is tv, apart from a standard broadcasting licence, the location has to pay a premium rate for any broadcast content.

But surely, if you are ill, then the last thing on your mind is some tv showing, for you, irrelevancies

Now. Should I take one pill or two for making this reply