Truman Customer Story Column
First impressions of the clinic
The worries of those about to have surgery usually run along two lines: worry about the body, and worry about the wallet. The patient I want to talk about today belonged to the latter. Rather than the surgery itself, it was the cost that weighed on his mind first, and it had kept him putting the surgery off for a long time. His questionnaire was short, but its contents were clear.
It Felt Sincere
His Biggest Worry Was the Cost
What this patient feared most before surgery was not the pain, nor the scar, but the cost. Depending on its condition, gynecomastia is a condition that can be covered by health insurance benefits — for patients enrolled in Korea's national health insurance. It is not, however, applied to everyone or automatically, so in the consultation we confirm, according to each person's own condition, whether coverage applies and what procedures are required. This patient, too, said that as he listened to that guidance, much of his vague worry was cleared up. Worrying about cost is nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it is exactly the part you should ask about clearly.
The Look in the Eyes, the Way of Speaking
In the box asking about his impression of the clinic, this patient wrote: "The look in their eyes and the way they spoke seemed sincere, and it left an impression on me." It means he looked first at the manner of the person explaining, before the content of the explanation — which is why it reads as a weighty line to us. Because I know that a few minutes in the consultation room become, for the patient, the conclusion of months of worry, I believe that during those minutes, at least, sincerity must come through.
"If Only the Cost Weren't an Issue"
For the words he wanted to leave others facing the same struggle, this patient wrote: "If only the cost weren't an issue, I think you could just go ahead and do it." Of course, this comes from his own personal experience, and whether surgery is needed is something to judge after confirming your own condition through a consultation. Still, if you are someone for whom cost, like him, remains the last hesitation, I would suggest confirming that part first in the consultation. Once you know whether coverage applies and what the procedures are, the size of the worry often changes.
- Dr. Yoo Jae-hyun, TRUEMAN Gangnam -
