(Phone call between doctor and patient)
P: Good morning Doctor Canceran, I’m Vanessa
Damaso and I just want to schedule a check up this
afternoon if that’s okay.
D: Well, hello Ms. Damaso. Sure, you can schedule a
check up, but is it okay for you to come here maybe
before 3pm?
(P cuts the doctor before finishing his words)
P: Uhm, excuse me Doctor Canceran but your voice is
not audible and it keeps cutting out. I can not
understand the words that you are saying.
(Phone call ends)
P: mm, well maybe the signal is too weak. I’ll just send
him a message.
(At the clinic)
P: Good morning Doctor Canceran.
D: Good morning Ms. Damaso. Please, have a seat.
P: Thank you. Sorry for the phone call this morning, I
guess the signal is weak, that’s why we didn’t have a
good conversation.
D: Well yes, I didn’t quite get what you are saying in
the other line and the line suddenly cuts off. So, what
are you feeling? What brings you here today?
P: I am experiencing back pain Doc, and my arms and
elbows hurt too.
D: Okay, so how long have you been suffering from
those pain?
P: I guess, a couple of weeks now.
D: Can you please stand Ms. Damaso and face at your
back. I’m just going to check your shoulder and back.
( Check the P back)
(D and P take a seat)
D: So your shoulder blades are not perfectly aligned
and you need to get an x-ray so that we can look at
your bones and examine it.
(After x-ray)
P: Here’s my x-ray doc.
(D examine the x-ray)
D: Based on your x-ray you have a moderate
dextroscoliosis.
P: Omy, what kind of illness is that? Am I going to dye,
or is it deadly doc?
D: No Ms. Damaso, dextroscoliosis is a type of
scoliosis, it is a deformity of the spine that results in a
sideways curve of the spinal column. Just look at your
x-ray.
P: oh no. Why is it like that? Is it going to break or
twist?
D: Well, there is a possibility that it might happen. But
don’t worry, we can treat it with surgery..
P: Surgery doc? No, I can’t do that and I’m afraid to
undergo a surgery. Please doc, is that the only option
that I have? Is there any other treatment that I can
do?
D: Please Ms. Damaso, if you can only let me finish my
sentence you will not react that way. Just calm down,
okay? Inhale, exhale.
P: (inhale exhale) okay
D: So as I was saying, you can undergo surger, physical
therapy or braces.
P: Doc, what is the best treatment for me?
D: you can do physical therapy every month and brace
for 3 years. You don’t have to choose right away. We
still have to monitor your scoliosis for a month to
come up with the best treatment for you.
P: Sure, Doctor Canceran. Thank you for your patience
and see you next month.
(The end)