Join us today at Elaine’s Literary Salon: Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 6-9pm — Meet Joan Naidorf and learn about her new book, “Changing How We Think About Difficult Patients: A Guide for Physicians and Healthcare Professionals”
When: Sunday, Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 6-9pm
At Elaine’s: 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Meet the Author: Dr. Joan Naidorf is a board-certified emergency physician trained at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia. After growing up in Highland Park, NJ, she obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia. She practiced for nearly thirty years in the busy emergency departments of Inova Alexandria Hospital and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. As an author and speaker, she has been sharing important ideas with students, residents and practicing physicians through various online and direct engagements. She was recently appointed to the editorial advisory board of The DO magazine. Her proudest accomplishment has been raising three compassionate and intelligent children along with Toby, her devoted husband. Toby supplies many stories of the patients who challenge him from his busy gastroenterology practice. In her spare time, Dr. Naidorf enjoys reading, traveling, playing tennis, tasting wine, and walking with Dolly, the miniature poodle. Learn more: drjoannaidorf.com
About Changing How We Think About Difficult Patients: A Guide for Physicians and Healthcare Professionals
Physicians enter their professions with the highest of hopes and ideals for compassionate and efficient patient care. Along the way, however, recurring problems arise in their interactions with some patients that lead physicians to label them as “difficult.” Some studies indicate that physicians identify 15% or more of their patients as “difficult.” The negative feelings that physicians have toward these patients may lead to frustration, cynicism, and burnout.
Changing How We Think about Difficult Patients uses a multi-tiered approach to bring awareness to the difficult patient conundrum, then introduces simple, actionable tools that every physician, nurse, and caregiver can use to change their mindset about the patients who challenge them. Positive thoughts lead to more positive feelings and more effective treatments and results for patients. They also lead to more satisfaction and decreased feelings of burnout in healthcare professionals.
How does this book give you an advantage? Caring for difficult patients poses a tremendous challenge for physicians, nurses, and clinical practitioners. It may contribute significantly to feelings of burnout, including feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and lost sense of purpose. In response, Dr. Naidorf offers a pragmatic approach to accepting patients the way they are, then provides strategies for providers to find more happiness and satisfaction in their interactions with even the most challenging patients and families.
Here are just some of the topics the author discusses in detail:
- What Makes a “Good” Patient?
- The Four Core Ethical Principals of the Clinician-Patient Relationship
- The Four Models of the Physician-Patient Relationship
- What Challenges Anybody with Illness or Injury?
- How “Good” Patients Handle the Challenges of Illness and Injury
- Six Common Reactions to Illness and Hospitalization
- On “Taking Care of the Hateful Patient”
- Standards for Education in Medical Ethics
- De-escalation Strategies
- Cultural, Structural, and Language Issues
- Types of Patients Who Tend to Challenge Us
- The Think, Feel, Act Cycle
- Recognizing Our Preconceived Thoughts
- Three Common Thought Distortions About Patients
- Asking Useful Questions
- Getting Out of the Victim Mentality
- Guiding our Thoughts Through a Common Scenario
- Show Compassion, Feel Compassion
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com
Find more Elaine’s Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.
Elaine’s Literary Salon
About Elaine’s: A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selection is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt — a combination of Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the previous home for 38 years of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host 
