Thanks to the Blog

I volunteered to blog for Physicians Practice, I must admit, for primarily narcissistic, egotistical reasons. There. I said it. I saw the “ad” for writers. “Opinionated and witty.” I was definitely the former, I leave the latter for you to decide. I have thoughts in my head, some of which I used to share on other online physician communities. I have a lot to say. Not that anybody necessarily cares. So blogging gives me an outlet. A platform. A soapbox.

I go from time to time to see if anyone responds to or comments on my posts. Often there is nothing. Sometimes there are one or two replies.

I have discovered that I have colleagues who read my posts. One of whom is apparently a regular follower (Hi, Eric!). My former partner says he’s impressed, not just by the content, but by the mere fact that I have time to blog at all (my apologies, by the way, for missing last week’s deadline).

I have also recently realized that when patients Google me, the link to the Physicians Practice blog pops up first - before the ratings Web sites I wrote about in an earlier post.

And apparently, my patients like reading it. It gives them insight as to who I am beyond the exam room. It tells them more about the trials and tribulations of being a private practitioner in today’s world. In one case (that I know of), it even helped a patient decide to come see me because it makes me “more human.” By reading it, she already decided that she would like me. And, hey, she thinks I’m funny.