What do I tell a breast care patient who is unsatisfied with a negative finding?
Discuss options with your patient and include her in management decisions. Elicit and heed all complaints and investigate abnormal symptoms aggressively. Develop a clear and effective plan and insure the patient’s understanding and agreement of that plan. Document all interactions as they occur to support future care and to clarify any disputes that may arise later. This includes: • In the history and physicals section of the record include the findings of the breast examination. Note–in quotes–what the patient said versus your own findings. • Use a diagram or descriptive notes to record the exact location of all lumps or lesions.
