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[Something that I don’t think people who “aren’t in the business” don’t realize. These patients who are presenting for care are ALL critically ill. In a normal day even a big hospital only has a handful of these cases and the resources a case like that suck up are immense.]

Seems to me that they’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they need people to show up long before they’re critical. On the other, they don’t want every hypochondriac in their area to get in line at the hospital. In your experience, what’s the hangnail-grade hypochondriac to terminally-ill stoic ratio?

[These people are having to do this in an environment where suddenly YOU could be the one on the stretcher. It must be a serious emotional challenge to function in that environment. One the #s fail to inform.]

I think I can empathize with them. They’re suddenly thrust into an environment where they’re taking incoming fire, but that fire is literally invisible, so they can’t even duck. People who go into the profession aren’t soldiers - they’re not generally used to taking incoming, and even soldiers are jolted by it the first time it occurs.

My guess is the medical staff in the hospitals in NYC are rapidly becoming “grizzled combat veterans”. 1,000 yard stare. The healthcare they provide in years to come will be nothing like it once was. I suspect their patience for BS will be VERY low.

Almost missed the question in there. What is the hypochondriac to actually ill ratio? My experience is that is a function of the community. I found Active Duty soldiers to be almost reliably stoic. Especially in the presence of their peers.

Suburban housemoms, not so much. Especially in regards to their children. My daughter calls at least once a quarter asking about the new grandchild that is ill. She knows I wouldn’t give advice over the phone outside of very limited cases to my actual patients. She also knows I would never practice Medicine on my own family. Outside of very limited cases. I asked her if she would let me fulfill a personal fantasy, to deliver my own grandchild. She insisted I not be in the same state.

Point being even my daughter knows all this but she can’t help herself. When one of the grandkids gets sick I get a call. I am always happy to take it. I can’t help myself.